CAL plane makes second emergency landing
(CNS): Officials from Cayman Airways Ltd have said that one of its Max 737 aircraft has been taken out of service, and the airline is working with Boeing to resolve the issue after it was forced to make an emergency landing on Saturday night, the second within the space of two days. Flight KX792 from Grand Cayman to New York landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) at 10:36pm (EST) after
encountering a flap indication issue during its final approach.
This aircraft had previously been removed from service on 8 August for the same reason following an emergency landing at Owen Roberts International Airport following a flight from Los Angeles.
In a press release issued Sunday, CAL stated that a defective sensor had been identified and replaced on 8 August, and after extensive and successful checks, the aircraft was returned to service. The plane then flew four flights on 10 August without issue before the flap indication error reoccurred on approach to JFK.
Given the repeat occurrence, the aircraft was immediately removed from service in JFK for further investigation, officials stated, noting that CAL had received new and additional troubleshooting steps to be taken before the aircraft is cleared for further flights.
“The safety of our passengers and crew is our top priority at Cayman Airways,” said Cayman Airways President and CEO Fabian Whorms. “We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of
operational safety and reliability and will not compromise on these standards. We understand the
concern this situation must have caused, and we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience. We assure
our passengers and the public that we are taking every necessary step to resolve this issue swiftly and
thoroughly.”
Footage circulating on social media showing passengers bracing for a crash landing has stirred up alarm, given how close the two emergency landings have been. But officials said this was as a result of an abundance of caution.
“In keeping with the airline’s stringent and abundantly cautious operating procedures, Captain Basil
Hamaty, assisted by First Officer Felton Beneby, declared an emergency with the knowledge that the
aircraft was perfectly capable of landing safely at a higher speed than normal without the use of flaps
on JFK’s very long runway, and without any potential need for excessive deceleration,” officials stated.
“In a procedural abundance of caution, the Captain ordered that the passengers be prepared for such an
event. This incident involved the same aircraft that previously experienced a similar issue on August 8,
2024 during flight KX481’s approach to Grand Cayman from Los Angeles.”
Meanwhile, to ensure continued service to passengers, Cayman Airways positioned a different aircraft at JFK early Sunday, which successfully operated the delayed flight KX793 from New York to Grand Cayman.
Passengers travelling on CAL’s jet service were warned to expect delays across the network, and affected passengers will be contacted directly with updates.
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Category: Local News, Travel
A no-flap or flap related issue on landing is really a non-issue. This happens almost daily in the US due to high volume of flight traffic for example. If you think about it, aircraft were engineered and certified to operate safely without the use of these secondary flight controls because failures can and do happen from time to time. Small penalties occur such as an increase in Vref (landing speed), conditions dependent, and with the shortest runway at JFK being over 8000′, stopping wouldn’t be a concern, as you’ll still have the (Wheel) brakes and speed brakes to assist in dumping lift. These events and more are covered in Simulator training and in some cases on the actual aircraft for the flight crew.
Why over-sensationalize it and cause extra anxiety and drama for passengers to have them brace for an “emergency’ landing, given that Cayman Airways was already in the media just days prior for the same flaps issue is a stretch…. The aircraft type involved is a Max but that is a whole other dialogue!
Sell Cayman Airways to the private sector. An island of 70,000 people can not possibly run an airline through its government. It just burns cash.
I wanted to clarify the critical role our national airline plays, especially in times of crisis. The utility of having our own airline cannot be overstated; it is absolutely essential.
During Hurricane Ivan (Sept 2004), when all other airlines ceased operations, Cayman Airways continued to serve, providing free ferry flights to Miami for anyone in need—whether visitor, expat, or Caymanian. This went on for 10 days after the storm and for no direct cost, during which tens of thousands of people were moved to safety. KX staff worked tirelessly (some of them who lost their homes). Other airlines did not resume service until December 2004.
Similarly, during the pandemic, while other airlines canceled flights, it was our national airline that stepped up to transport students and medical patients to the U.S. The idea of not having our own airline during emergencies is akin to suggesting we get rid of our only bridge in times of crisis—it’s not only ill-informed but also dangerous. Cayman Airways is our only bridge in times of emergency.
Thank you for considering this perspective.
Heads should roll for this. At a minimum the CEO and head of maintenance should be let go.
This is what happens with shoddy maintenance.
sell the dam money pit.
CAL really is earning its other name Cayman Scareways😱
If it’s Boeing, I ain’t going
CAL, more braces than a dentistry practice.
Meanwhile, let us all buy tickets to fly on these Max8 so that we can go travel and see different places with a very high chance that we will die in a crash going or leaving there. CAL just had to be the first in the Caribbean to get these brand new on the market planes… was it to brag and show off or just to spend CIG cash to say something was done while they sat in those seats (Parliament and CAL Board).Either ways it looks like we have a bunch of problematic airplanes that are a great threat to our sky traveling safety!!
Very high chance we die in a crash? Are you sure?
Take a boat or swim then.
In the event of an emergency; Put your head between your legs and kiss your ass goodbye.
I haven’t been in a plane crash before but I think it would be kinda scary it would be like the complete opposite of totally awesome
This is terrifying….why was this plane allowed to fly again? I hope there is a full investigations. People need to be held accountable.
737 Jet Malfunctioning Wing Flap
Friday 10 May 2024 13:04 BST
Flight 166, a 737 jet operated by United Airlines, took off from Fukuoka Airport in south-western Japan on Friday morning, heading for Guam, an island territory in the western Pacific.
The plane landed back on the tarmac at Fukuoka around 11.45am local time (3.45am UK time) due to a wing flap that was found to be malfunctioning.
Wonder it will be in the air in two days.
And if it is, whether it wil have the exact same problem reoccur within 5 flights.
If only OfReg had not banned Starlink. CAL can’t even contact Elon to request a SpaceX rescue vehicle.
Like those boys in that cave in Thailand if we were waiting on Elon Musk to come save us we would really be up shit creek without a paddle and sinking fast
Musk is an arch-narcissist and an egomaniac who lies as often as he breathes
I wouldn’t trust him to pull a pizza out of an oven
I’d forgotten about his pedogog moment. As a theoretical micro sub designer.