Archive for December, 2006
On December 30, 2006 at approximately 16.25 pm a twin engine Piper Aztec aircraft (PA32) registration N3332W en route from St. Barths to St. Maarten ditched west of the Caravansarai hotel in the Maho Bay.
The sole person on board Captain R. Hudson was rescued by personnel of a passing pleasure craft that saw the aircraft in trouble ditched into the sea along with personnel of the island fire brigade. Captain Hudson was brought to the coast guard station at the Simpson bay bridge where he was checked by ambulance and medical doctor.
The Air Traffic Control center at the Princes Juliana International Airport activated the emergency response at the airport rescue and fire services and security department, who initiated the emergency call-out procedure and notified all relevant authorities.
All pertinent emergency response groups amongst which local police, local fire & rescue department sea rescue and the coast guard along with PJIA management staff were activated and worked together to coordinate and effectively to handle the incident.
After confirmation from the captain and from St. Barths airport, that there were no other persons besides the pilot on board, sea rescue operations, whereby three (3) divers were on standby in the event that more persons on board the aircraft, were called off at 17:45 pm.
In consultation with the local chief of police lt. Governor F. Richards, head of the island disaster management committee and the members of the EOC, the rescue operations where called off at 18.15 pm.
Simpson Bay, December 30, 2006
drs. E.B. Holiday, President
Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company N.V.