by Mindy Aguon, KUAM News Friday, August 19, 2005 Subscribe to Mindy's newsfeed   E-mail this article Printable version KUAM Toolbar Web Widgets Get RSS headlines

A 747 Northwest Airlines aircraft en route from Narita, Japan was evacuated at the Guam International Airport Authority this afternoon. The incident comes just 48 hours before the airline's mechanics threatened to stop working.

According to wire reports, Northwest management is seeking to cut $176 million in annual savings through elimination of more than half of the mechanic jobs, and major pay cuts for those who remain employed. While the airline expected significant travel disruptions because of the strike, Northwest Airlines on Guam is now having to deal with hundreds of passengers who were forced to evacuate from a 747 that came to a screeching halt in the middle of the Airport's runway.

The Federal Aviation Administration and Northwest are trying to determine what caused a major malfunction during the landing of a routine flight from Japan to Guam. Hundreds of passengers aboard Northwest Airlines Flight 74 were evacuated in the middle of the Guam International Airport Authority runway this afternoon. Airport marketing representative Rolenda Faasuamalie says things appeared normal as the aircraft announced its landing to the Airport's air traffic control. But at 2:22 this afternoon, it was evident something wasn't right.

LSG Sky Chefs employee Joel Sablan was on the runway waiting for a Japan Airlines flight to land when he witnessed something he's never seen before. The Northwest Boeing 747 came to a screeching halt. "As it was landing down, I was driving here what happened when it was landing down it looked like the tire came off and the chassis was scraping the ground and I saw little flames and that was it," he recalled.

Sablan says it looked like the front tires of the aircraft fell off, causing the aircraft's nose gear to slam into the runway. "Yeah, I was freaking out," he said, adding, "It was rubbing; already hitting the ground, scraping and I saw some sparks."

Sablan says he watched as Northwest personnel deployed the aircraft's four bright yellow slides, allowing the passengers to get to safety. Faasuamalie says GIAA officials are not calling the incident a crash landing, or even an emergency landing. "The incident which was the nose gear touching down on the runway occurred at [2:22pm]. At that time Northwest personnel activated their emergency slide and passengers were evacuated."

Aboard the plane were 318 passengers (including 7 infants), 3 pilots and 13 flight attendants. Upon evacuation, passengers were evaluated for possible injuries sustained during the incident. Confirmed Faasuamalie, "Upon evacuation from the aircraft, we do have the command posts set up at the sight. The command set up the triage with Public Health and Mental Health looking for and sorting passengers if there were injuries or not. From there we've processed them through immigrations and right now Northwest and their support personnel are processing the passengers at Gate 18."

In a closed-door meeting, updates were given this afternoon to Airport, Civil Defense, and government officials. While Governor Felix Camacho, one of his staff members, and Senator Jesse Anderson Lujan (R) were given access to visit the passengers, Airport officials denied our request. An FAA official was also part of the briefings.

As of 5pm, the Airport's 6 Right and 6 Left runways remained closed as the Northwest aircraft continues to sit unbalanced in the middle of the area. The nose of the plane is touching the ground, which Faasuamalie confirms is not a normal occurrence. Airport officials are not confirming if the front wheels of the aircraft fell off during the landing.

With the runway's closure, seven inbound flights to Guam have been diverted. Additionally Central Avenue in Tiyan and the Airport access road has been closed off to motorists. There's no word how long the runway and the access road to Tiyan will be closed.

There were a total of 318 passengers onboard the Boeing 747, including 7 infants. There were also three pilots and 13 flight attendants onboard when the aircraft came to a screeching halt in the middle of the Guam International Airport Authority runway. There were no deaths, but there were three injuries reported, however, officials do not know the extent of those injuries.

Additionally, because the airport's runway has been shut down until the all-clear is given, seven flights scheduled to arrive this evening have been diverted.

Faasuamalie says Continental flights 962, 916, 920, 400, and 970, along with Japan Airlines Flight 941, and cape air flight number 9603, have been diverted to Andersen Air Force Base, or to Saipan International Airport. Those flights were diverted after GIAA's runway was closed.

In the meantime, there is an emergency coordination center number that residents can call for updates on the status of the passengers aboard Flight 74. The Emergency Coordination Center numbers are 642-4474/5/6/7. Airport officials say the ECC hotline has been flooded with phone calls since the Northwest aircraft landing. Those residents needing information on the passengers aboard Flight 74, diverted aircraft, and updates on departures can call the ECC at 642-4474.

KUAM News with Governor Camacho just before 6pm, and he confirms both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board has cleared GIAA to remove the aircraft. However, GIAA executive manager Jess Torres clarified the Governor's statement, saying it was FAA representative Tim Cornelius who made the decision to have the aircraft towed. Officials have yet to speak to the NTSB. Airport and Northwest officials were also conducting an assessment of the plane and removing the passenger's baggage.

Governor Camacho also has confirmed there is some smoldering, with officials trying to find the source in order to put it out. Airport officials will get the necessary equipment to lift the nose of the plane allowing it to taxi to the south side of the runway. The Governor says Runway 6 Right should be back open and operational at about 9pm Chamorro Standard Time (GMT+10) for departures and arrivals.

There are three reported injuries from this afternoon's incident, with one passenger transported to the Naval Hospital in Agana Heights, all are classified as minor injuries. Camacho visited with those passengers and says they are in good spirits, and commends Northwest Airlines crewmembers and Andersen Air Force Base personnel for assisting in the diverted flights.