Some one hundred and fifteen passengers were seriously inconvenienced and forced to remain in Guyana yesterday, after a Caribbean Airlines flight was grounded owing to the malfunction of a computer on board the plane.
General Manager of Caribbean Airlines, South America, Carlton DeFour told Stabroek News that flight BW424 to JFK in New York with a stop in Trinidad was scheduled to leave the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri at 12:30 pm yesterday, but had to be cancelled when problems developed with a computer on the plane.
He said that the plane was in take off mode and was taxiing down the runway when the problem developed. There was an attempt to fix the problem and another try at take off, he said. However, it was realized that the problem could not be fixed in a short period of time and in the interest of safety the flight was cancelled.
DeFour explained that the parts and technicians would have been flown in on the airline’s last flight around 10:30 last night and repairs instituted.
He said that the flight should be on around 3 or 4 pm today.
Admitting that there would have been disgruntled passengers at the delay, DeFour said the airline moved to minimize such; passengers were put up at hotels and transportation provided to and from the airport.
Meanwhile, this newspaper has also learnt that last Saturday another Caribbean Airlines flight was delayed for more than two hours after a computer glitch at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport slowed check-in to less than a crawl.
Audrey Bacchus, a passenger scheduled to leave on BW424 to JFK, New York with one stop in Trinidad, told Stabroek News that there were two Caribbean Airlines flights – the second one was going to Toronto — and a large number of people checking in when the computers at the check-in counter went blank. Bacchus said that after some time an airline official informed passengers that there was a problem with the computers and asked them to be patient.
Bacchus, a pensioner, said that after the computers came on again, they spewed out undecipherable boarding passes and baggage tags for a while before finally printing the correct information.
The passenger said when she enquired, the check-in clerk told her that it was the inclement weather at Timehri that had affected the computers. There was heavy rainfall and flooding on Saturday. Despite being frustrated at the delay, however, Bacchus commended the Caribbean Airlines staff on duty that day for operating professionally and courteously under what were clearly difficult conditions.
Most modern jet planes are almost totally commanded by computers, the main one being the Flight management Computer (FMC). All flight data is put into this computer, including takeoff speed, flap settings, climb speed and angle of climb, rate of climb, temperature, pressure, flight altitude and target speed, a long list of data is put into the FMC. With this in mind, and knowing that other computers are linked to the FMC, a problem with one of the computers, or the FMC, could compromise safety. It is not a common problem, but it could happen, and happen sometimes. The pilots did the right thing in not continuing the flight. Better safe than sorry! People seem to love to complain and criticize. They should learn something about the planes they travel on, they will know that flying a plane is serious business, and that it takes a lot of money to maintain them. Maybe some of the passengers who suffered inconviences would have prefered that the aircraft fell out of the sky with them inside.
From small days I heard that the technicians onboard a commercial aircraft always had replacement parts with them onboard. How come this flight didn’t had any, instead the part had to be flown in from overseas? I now see why the planes fall out of the skies and they can’t come up with answers as to why.
Gopie and Sam, good for you. Zapatta needs to recognize that the searches done at airports are mainly in the interest of safety although I believe that some of the authorities get carried away with whom they target for searches.
On a trip back home from Florida I had to change planes in Atlanta, Georgia and was targeted by a Guyanese Indian for a personal search. To this day I believe that it was done maninly because I was the only black person on the flight. However, when he was throught with his search I thanked him and suggested that such searches were a good thing in the interest of safety. He had a puzzled look on his face afterwards as he probably thought that I would have been upset. A week later, since this was just about the time of 9/11, the American airport authorities check the legality of pepople working at the airports and, guess what, he was one of the illegals and was let go (fired). Zapatta what goes around comes around. I would not let the incident at the Piarco airport prevent you from further travel to Guyana.
I am not surprised. It had to be a Caribbean plane.
…….at least its not yours……….
Kudos to the pilot, crew and staff of caribbean airlines (in guyana). I had the opportunity to visit guyana for the first time just over a week and a half ago and returned last saturday. didn’t know there was a problem. I flew on the tiny prop plane, spent 9 hours in trinidad awaiting my connecting flight, then another 5 hours in TX for yet another connecting flight. The crew in Guyana were exceptionally nice, Trinidad, can’t say the same. No fun traveling 36+ hours each way. My 36+ hours of traveling was inconvenient. I would stay aground as long as the crew wants me to when it comes to safety. Excellent job again. Wow, to think that I could have possibly been on either of those flights. There is a dire need to get better flights to Guyana from other states. Must there always be a LOOOONG layover in Trinidad? Unless there are other options, flying to Guyana via Trinidad will not see me again, first and last time.
For safety, I’d rather stay put until the issue is resolved. Relieved would be more the descriptive word if I found out there was an issue and the pilot MADE THE CORRECT DECISION TO GROUND THE PLANE!! AWESOME, captain and crew you all deserve commendation.
GT QUEEN60, my country and yours GUYANA, always had the human resource like Mr Bacchus,and the reporter who are intelligent,reasonable and responsible.Your point is well taken, but I am not surprised.
Oh boy i had just arrived on the incoming flight on this same plane
Hi wondering if anyone can help me. I have not been able to contact Caribbean Airlines, neither here or in New york. My mum was scheduled to fly from New York to Trinidad yesterday evening but missed her connection due to delays at heathrow. I am really worried as she called me last night and said she is on standby and people have been on standby since Friday. Could anyone tell me if the airline will provide a hotel for her or does she just have to wait for days in the airport? I have not been able to contact her now as her mobile is dead. I would appreciate any help. Thank you, Kim