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Northwest Airlines (NWA) Boeing 747 flies routinely to
Guam, touching down about a quarter past 2 p.m. daily at
the Antonio Won Pat International Airport in Tiyan. But
today's landing was anything but routine.
Preliminary reports indicated that the
plane lost its landing gear at touchdown, skidding on
its nose some distance before finally stopping
about 300 yards before the end of the runway.
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Contributed Photo By: Carl P. Leon
Guerrero, PE
NWA Flight 74 is
resting on its nose on the runway, pointing east
towards Latte Heights and Yigo villages. Two of
the plane's right side emergency slides can be
seen in this view of the plane. All four slides
were deployed. This photo was taken around 3:30
p.m. from Barrigada Heights, a housing area on
Barrigada Hill overlooking the runway.
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In a
telephone interview, before 3 p.m. this afternoon,
Airport spokeswoman Rolinda Faasuamaile said that none
of the passengers on board were seriously injured, and
that the plane was resting on its nose on the runway but
that the incident was not considered a crash landing.
At
4:32 p.m. this afternoon, the Air Force announced that
they were recovering commercial aircraft until further
notice for Won Pat International Airport due to an
incident on their runway. The AF release said,
"Passengers arriving at Andersen via Continental will be
escorted to Andersen's new Air Expeditionary Force
Forward Operating Location Hanger until Continental can
transport individuals to WPIA."
In
their 6 p.m. Television News, KUAM reporter Mindy
Fothergill said the 318 passengers, (including seven
infants) 13 flight attendants and three pilots slid to
safety. No serious injuries were reported.
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Photo Courtesy: Carl P. Leon Guerrero,
PE
Incident on Won Pat International
Airport - NWA 747 rests on its nose on the runway,
forcing the airport to close.
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Governor
Felix Camacho requested the assistance of the Air Force
in the use of equipment needed to lift and move the
plane from the runway in order to open the terminal by 9
p.m. tonight. The Air Force agreed to assist GovGuam
move the plane.
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