Twelve years ago today, Kenya Airways 431 crashed into the sea seconds after takeoff. An alarm was sent out immediately, yet the first survivors were not recovered for three hours. The airport had neither waterborne search and rescue capability nor direct coordination with certain other available means. A poorly coordinated effort was complicated by total darkness.
The final report concluded:
This recommendation could mean either airport-owned equipment or rehearsed coordination with nearby resources. It is exactly what I would like to see as a requirement for coastal airports. If it had been required at the time the report was released (2002), it is plausible that there would have been more survivors recovered from the Yemenia 626 crash.
The final report concluded:
4.3 Rescue operations The Abidjan Airport emergency plan was applied as soon as the accident occurred. The investigation showed the difficulties encountered in organizing the sea rescue operations. The characteristics of Abidjan Airport are not an isolated case. These characteristics are representative of the majority of coastal airports with high traffic. All airports have permanent ground equipment for search and rescue on a permanent state of alert during opening hours. However, the majority of airports on the coast or near water do not have maritime rescue equipment available allowing for such operations to be undertaken in the area around coastal airports.
Consequently, the Commission of Inquiry recommends that:
• civil aviation authorities responsible for coastal airports or those near water ensure that appropriate equipment (aerial, maritime, etc.) be put in place so as to ensure immediate intervention at an accident site located in an area near a coastal airport.
Consequently, the Commission of Inquiry recommends that:
• civil aviation authorities responsible for coastal airports or those near water ensure that appropriate equipment (aerial, maritime, etc.) be put in place so as to ensure immediate intervention at an accident site located in an area near a coastal airport.
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