media release 5 – accident airlink flight update #4 - 26/09/09
ACCIDENT - AIRLINK FLIGHT Update #4 at 10h00
Airlink Media bulletin
Issued 26 September 2009
JOHANNESBURG - Airlink would like to provide a further update on the status of its positioning flight (ferry flight), SA 8911 from Durban to Pietermaritzburg which was involved in an accident at 08h00 on Thursday 24 September 2009 . There were no passengers on board and no fatalities.
The status of our three crew members and the bystander on the ground, who were injured in the accident and are still in hospital in Durban receiving medical attention for their injuries, is as follows:
1. Capt Alistair Freeman who sustained multiple injuries including facial fractures, broken ribs, leg injuries and a punctured lung. Yesterday successfully underwent a 10 hour operation to attend to his left leg and facial fractures. His condition is stable but remains critical. We anticipate that he will have to undergo additional operations to further attend to his severe injuries.
2. First Officer Sonja Bierman, who also sustained multiple injuries, having been operated on successfully on Thursday evening is no longer critical and remains in a stable condition. Further treatment will take place today.
3. Flight Attendant Rodelle Oosthuizen is recovering well, is stable with attention to her spinal injury planned during the next few days.
4. The member of the public, Durban Solid Waste employee Mr Abraham Mthethwa who had sustained leg fractures, has also now been operated on successfully and is in a stable condition.
5. The wreckage of the aircraft will be moved to Johannesburg today, to a secure hangar, where the investigation led by the South African Civil Aviation authority will continue, with assistance as necessary from specialists from the aircraft manufacturer BAE SYSTEMS, Honeywell (the engine manufacturers) and Airlink’s technical team. The digital flight data and cockpit voice recorders are in the process of being transported to specialist organisations for download.
6. Notwithstanding reports in the press yesterday ascribed to the SACAA that a preliminary report on the cause of the accident could be published today; it is anticipated that the investigation is still going to take some time before any form of preliminary findings could be made available. Airlink however remains in close contact with the SACAA and as soon as any interim result is obtained from the flight data recorders will provide an update. Airlink therefore implores the media and the public at large to have patience and allow the technical expert’s the necessary time to complete their detailed analysis. Any speculation in the interim can be misleading and could be detrimental to the outcome of the investigation.
Airlink’s CEO Rodger Foster traveled to Durban yesterday to visit the injured crew members in hospital, met and spoke at length to their families and the doctors attending to them. Airlink management representatives will continue to remain in Durban to provide support to our crew members and their families who are at their bedside.
Airlink would like to express its sincere appreciation to the numerous members of the public, frequent fliers on Airlink, our valued customers, aviation industry leaders and other professionals, as well as the Media and our own employee group, for the almost overwhelming number of messages of support and condolences we have received.
Airlink advises that its scheduled air services have not been disrupted. Operations continue as normal.
We wish our crew members a speedy recovery; they remain very in close our thoughts.
Journalists should call 082 854 1988 for further information.
Issued for Airlink
KARIN MURRAY