bahamiangoddess
02-06-08, - 01:52 AM
6th February
Western Air Passengers Demand Apology
By Paige Ferguson
Three traumatized passengers of a Western Air plane that made an emergency landing Saturday claimed on Tuesday that the company had not even contacted them after the harrowing experience.
They said they simply want an apology.
One of the company’s aircraft, a Fairchild Metro airliner, left Mangrove Cay, Andros, en route to New Providence shortly after 4pm. As the aircraft approached New Providence, the plane’s landing gear began to experience difficulties, according to a company official.
Alexander Fernander, owner of a local trucking company, was on the aircraft.
He told The Bahama Journal that since the "scary" ordeal, he has suffered severe back pains.
Mr. Fernander along with Patrick Adderley and Jonathan Sterling said after that traumatic experience, they expected to a least get a phone call from the airline.
"I was really disappointed in Western Air. it was just an accident, but I hope they will come through soon," Mr. Fernander said.
"You know [given] that we’ve been through the trauma there wasn’t anybody that came and gave us a phone call, which I expect them to do, but up until now there has been no sign."
Mr. Adderley claimed the airline treated the passengers as if they didn’t exist. He said after he and the other passengers got off the crash-landed plane, it seemed as if it was just another day.
"After we got out of the hospital and everything it was just like school out, you know, everything dispersed, you know what I mean?" he said.
"Right now, I didn’t get a phone call. Everybody got [our] information – the police got information, the hospital got information but …I didn’t even get an apology."
Still seemingly in shock from the horrifying experience, Mr. Sterling said all he could think about during the incident was his family.
The only thing that was going through my head was I have four sons, and that was the main thing," he said.
"I thought about how would they survive and live their lives to what I want them to be."
While somewhat disgruntled over the matter, Mr. Fernander commended the way the pilot landed the plane.
Director of Operations at Western Air Captain Wolf Seifert said the day after the incident the company spoke with some of the passengers while they were at the airport picking up their luggage.
Mr. Seifert said unfortunately company officials were not able to contact everyone right away.
"Myself and Mrs. Johnson, our human resources person here in Nassau, have made several phone calls to some of the other people who were on the aircraft to inquire about their well being. This is as far as we’ve gotten now," he told The Bahama Journal.
"Once we know the details and the actual cause [of the incident] we will probably contact everybody and brief them on what the progress is on the whole matter."
The captain said the company met with its insurance agency on Tuesday to inspect the aircraft.
"We’re in a very fluid situation right now and I know that people are anxious to find out what’s going on, but once we have all the answers I think that would be the appropriate time to contact everybody and let them know what the status is," he said.
Mr. Seifert said the company is willing to assist those passengers who suffered injuries due to Saturday’s accident.
Damn that's all they want. Only in the Bahamas! If this was the U.S every single passenger was walking out the hospital in [I]neck brace, using crutches and in excruciating pain.
Insurance Coverage
Western Air is fully insured by an A rated company and carries 25Million per aircraft per occurrence combine single limit liability insurance.
We'll take you there . . .
Western Air Passengers Demand Apology
By Paige Ferguson
Three traumatized passengers of a Western Air plane that made an emergency landing Saturday claimed on Tuesday that the company had not even contacted them after the harrowing experience.
They said they simply want an apology.
One of the company’s aircraft, a Fairchild Metro airliner, left Mangrove Cay, Andros, en route to New Providence shortly after 4pm. As the aircraft approached New Providence, the plane’s landing gear began to experience difficulties, according to a company official.
Alexander Fernander, owner of a local trucking company, was on the aircraft.
He told The Bahama Journal that since the "scary" ordeal, he has suffered severe back pains.
Mr. Fernander along with Patrick Adderley and Jonathan Sterling said after that traumatic experience, they expected to a least get a phone call from the airline.
"I was really disappointed in Western Air. it was just an accident, but I hope they will come through soon," Mr. Fernander said.
"You know [given] that we’ve been through the trauma there wasn’t anybody that came and gave us a phone call, which I expect them to do, but up until now there has been no sign."
Mr. Adderley claimed the airline treated the passengers as if they didn’t exist. He said after he and the other passengers got off the crash-landed plane, it seemed as if it was just another day.
"After we got out of the hospital and everything it was just like school out, you know, everything dispersed, you know what I mean?" he said.
"Right now, I didn’t get a phone call. Everybody got [our] information – the police got information, the hospital got information but …I didn’t even get an apology."
Still seemingly in shock from the horrifying experience, Mr. Sterling said all he could think about during the incident was his family.
The only thing that was going through my head was I have four sons, and that was the main thing," he said.
"I thought about how would they survive and live their lives to what I want them to be."
While somewhat disgruntled over the matter, Mr. Fernander commended the way the pilot landed the plane.
Director of Operations at Western Air Captain Wolf Seifert said the day after the incident the company spoke with some of the passengers while they were at the airport picking up their luggage.
Mr. Seifert said unfortunately company officials were not able to contact everyone right away.
"Myself and Mrs. Johnson, our human resources person here in Nassau, have made several phone calls to some of the other people who were on the aircraft to inquire about their well being. This is as far as we’ve gotten now," he told The Bahama Journal.
"Once we know the details and the actual cause [of the incident] we will probably contact everybody and brief them on what the progress is on the whole matter."
The captain said the company met with its insurance agency on Tuesday to inspect the aircraft.
"We’re in a very fluid situation right now and I know that people are anxious to find out what’s going on, but once we have all the answers I think that would be the appropriate time to contact everybody and let them know what the status is," he said.
Mr. Seifert said the company is willing to assist those passengers who suffered injuries due to Saturday’s accident.
Damn that's all they want. Only in the Bahamas! If this was the U.S every single passenger was walking out the hospital in [I]neck brace, using crutches and in excruciating pain.
Insurance Coverage
Western Air is fully insured by an A rated company and carries 25Million per aircraft per occurrence combine single limit liability insurance.
We'll take you there . . .