Passenger: It Was A Hard Landing, We Smelt Smoke and Heard a Strange Noise

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NASSAU , BAHAMAS – On Friday, we heard from one of those 19 passengers onboard a Pineapple Air flight that suffered landing gear failure at an Eleuthera airport Thursday.

While she’s grateful to be alive, she told our Joshua Williams she wants a proper probe into what went wrong on the tarmac.

A scary situation Thursday in Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera.

A pilot and more than a dozen passengers onboard a Pineapple Air flight were able to walk away unhurt following a landing gear issue moments after touching down at an Eleuthera airport.

The Air Accident Investigation Authority released a statement saying the Beech 1900 aircraft, with Bahamian registration, had landing gear issues at the Governor’s Harbour Airport.

Heather Carey was a passenger onboard.

She described the moment she knew something was wrong.

Heather Carey – Passenger, Pineapple Air

“It was a hard land, which was really unusual and immediately I guess started hearing this awkward grading whooshing. It was very hard to describe so you know, and we felt the plane was moving side to side but not extreme but enough to think Oh crap.”

Heather Carey – Passenger, Pineapple Air

“And the noise escalated significantly and we started smelling smoke and someone in the back did say the landing gear is broken. And then we eventually came to a stop. But just before we came to a stop you could feel the pilot was losing control in retrospect. That was the point I believe the nose was coming down props the pops were hitting the tarmac.”

Eventually, the aircraft came to a stop.

All 19 onboard were able to walk away without any injuries.

While she praised the pilot’s skill in landing safely, how passengers were handled in the aftermath is what’s most disappointing.

Heather Carey – Passenger, Pineapple Air

“I went over to see if the pilot was ok emotionally he just kinda brushed me off. The other guy just kept telling people to walk away. People were screaming coming down the steps. I went back to help people come off the steps so that no one hurt themselves make sure everyone was ok. And of course people started taking pictures and it seems as if the biggest concern from the staff who came out was yelling at us aggressively no pictures no pictures. The lady from the pineapple desk came out and she ask if we were ok. The priority seems to be stopping us from taking pictures “

Up to our interview time, she said that no official communication had been made from the airline to passengers.

We also tried contacting the airline, but were unsuccessful.

Meantime, the plane was left lying on its belly, delaying an American Airlines flight that was already on the ground.

She said authorities had to use a crane to move the aircraft.

Heather Carey – Passenger, Pineapple Air

“Interestingly enough as you would see from my photos the crane it lofted the nose the wheels came out and they were able to very easily tow it down the runway on its wheels and then put it in a parking spot.”

Heather Carey – Passenger, Pineapple Air

“I am reaching out to tourism and the channels I know definitely we have to improve the oversight of these small charter companies”