WESTERN BUREAU:
A EUROPEAN bound A 320-airbus charter with 308 passengers and nearly 40 tons of fuel on board slid off the tarmac and on to the soft shoulder (sidewalk) at the Sangster International Airport on Monday.
No one was reportedly hurt in the mishap, but according to airport sources, a replacement 747 airbus had to be sent for the passengers.
Also, Air Tours, one of the largest suppliers of European visitors to the island and whose company was responsible for the chartered flight, is said to have instructed local handlers not to move the plane until their technical people and investigators could get a first-hand look into what happened.
The Airport Authority yesterday refused to answer questions regarding the incident, noting it was looking into the matter.
"We have absolutely nothing to say at this time," shouted a representative from their Montego Bay office.
"By tomorrow we may have something to say."
However, in light of the incident, questions are again being raised as to the state of the Sangster Airport and whether or not it is up to international standards.
Only a few weeks ago chairman of Air Jamaica, Gordon 'Butch' Stewart, described the airport on a radio programme as substandard and said the airline was being charged too much for landing fees.
