Flight attendant said to have prevented deaths in American Eagle landing

Airline Industry Information, May 11, 2004

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

The actions of a flight attendant aboard an American Eagle aircraft are said to have prevented deaths after the aircraft blew a tyre on landing.

The Super ATR turboprop aircraft had been carrying 22 passengers and four crew members from the Puerto Rican city of Mayaguez on 9 May. On arrival at Luis Munoz Marin International Airport a tyre blew causing the aircraft to skid off the runway.

The flight attendant managed to get the passengers in the brace position, which is believed to have prevented deaths. Instead 12 people on board were hospitalised.

A team of federal investigators has launched an examination into the cause of the crash.

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