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Passengers Share Distressing Experience On Flight 715

GRAND BAHAMA, BAHAMAS – A thirty minute flight turned into a distressing ordeal for passengers onboard a Western Air Flight Saturday. We spoke with two passengers who recounted their experience.

Published

10 months ago

January 7, 2024

Italia Hall

GRAND BAHAMA, BAHAMAS – A thirty minute flight turned into a distressing ordeal for passengers onboard a Western Air Flight Saturday. We spoke with two passengers who recounted their experience.

Our Italia Hall has been following this and spoke with the CEO of the airlines who shed more light on what happened.

It was one of the scariest moments for passengers onboard Western Airs flight 715 with service to Grand Bahama from Nassau on Saturday afternoon.

Shortly before landing, passengers were told by the flight attendant to brace for a potential crash landing as the aircraft was experiencing issues.

And while passengers braced themselves for the emergency landing passenger Prescott Knowles says he became uneasy, that’s when he told everyone to pray.

The pilot managed to land the plane safely as passengers are heard applauding the plane’s touch down.

Italia Hall also speaking with Member of Parliament for West Grand Bahama and Bimini Kingsley Smith who confirmed he was also onboard that flight.

Meanwhile, Western Air President and CEO, Sherexcia “Rexy” Rolle, explained in a statement that around 4:40 pm on Saturday, while approaching the Grand Bahama landing, the flight’s captain observed a gear indication light.

Taking precautionary measures, she said the captain re-entered the holding pattern, completed the checklist, but the indication light persisted. Acting with utmost caution, she said the captain declared an emergency landing with air traffic control and safely landed the aircraft ten minutes later.

Rolle emphasized that, despite no known danger, adherence to standard operating procedures required the crew to prepare passengers for potential emergencies.

The CEO assuring the airline’s maintenance team is currently scrutinizing the aircraft to identify the cause of the issue.

As for the father of five who reunited with his wife at Western Air’s terminal in Grand Bahama, he says he’s grateful to be alive calling it one of the most frightening moments of his life.