Search and Recovery Operations Continue For TBM-900 Aircraft

Search and recovery operations are continuing for the TBM-900 aircraft that crashed in Jamaican waters on Friday, September 5.

In addition to the Air Wing and Coast Guard of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), the Marine Police and the United States (US) Coast Guard are assisting in the search. The US Coast Guard Cutter and a C130 aircraft are involved.

The aircraft, which crashed at approximately 1:10 p.m., departed from Rochester, New York, heading south to Naples, Florida, with two persons on board.

The aircraft was reported to be non-responsive to communication from United States Air Traffic Control, and is suspected of running out of fuel and crashing somewhere over the Caribbean Sea.

Speaking at a press briefing, held at the Office of the Prime Minister on Saturday, September 6, Commanding Officer of the JDF Coast Guard, Commander Antoinette Wemyss-Gorman, informed that the JDF had continued its search operation throughout the night and into this morning.

She noted that a debris field was spotted on Friday, September 5, in an area about 24 nautical miles north of Port Antonio, in Portland. However, she said the JDF was unable to confirm that the debris sighted was from the aircraft, as by the time they got to where it was seen, they did not find it.

“At this point, we will have to assume that the debris that we spotted sank,” Commander Wemyss-Gorman said.

She explained that the basic mission of the JDF Coast Guard at this time is to continue the search to locate possible wreckage and or survivors, while continuing to coordinate with all the partners in the search.

“The United States Coast Guard has deployed what is called a self locating marker buoy and this piece of equipment will allow us further information to refine the search area,” Commander Wemyss-Gorman said.

For his part, Director General of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority, Leroy Lindsay, said three countries will be involved in the investigation of the plane crash -Jamaica, United States and France.

“The depth we expect where the aircraft went in is about 2,000 metres and we might not have the assets to deal with that in Jamaica. The French have volunteered to assist, should we need equipment to go to those depths to help us with the discovery of the aircraft,” he said.

Meanwhile, Minister with responsibility for Information, Senator the Hon. Sandrea Falconer, who chaired the press briefing, said the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), has activated its national emergency operations to provide support and coordination to key agencies.

Briefings have also been conducted with fishermen from the Portland area to advise them to make contact with the police if debris is spotted by one of their boats.