The Guinea Civil Aviation Authority is investigating an accident that occurred last Friday night (September 2) which involved a TAP Airplane and a motorbike carrying two on the runway at Guinea-Conakry Airport that resulted in their death.
The TAP Air Portugal Airbus A320neo (registered CS-TVI) was operating flight TP1492 between Lisbon, Portugal, and Conakry, Guinea.
“An investigation conducted by the Civil Aviation Authority of Guinea (AGAC), with the support of the Department of Security and Protection (SOGEAC), is underway to investigate the causes and responsibilities of the parties involved,” the airport tweeted.
According to the message, the accident occurred at 11:40 pm (local time) on Friday, when flight TP1492 of TAP Air Portugal, originating from Lisbon, hit two individuals who were circulating on a motorbike on the runway.
“The driver identified as a security agent, an employee of a company in charge of protecting the airport’s facilities“, the text stated, expressing “sincere condolences to the bereaved families“.
A press statement issued yesterday morning by TAP Air Portugal states that flight TP1492 had an accident upon landing at Conakry Airport when a motorbike tried to cross the runway. The occupant of the vehicle lost his life.
An official source from TAP confirmed to the Lusa press agency (Portugal) that there were two fatal victims of the accident.
TAP Air Portugal A320neo collides with a motorbike while landing at Conakry Airport in Guinea. The aircraft rolled out without further incident however both occupants of the motorbike were killed. https://t.co/dmsqEJgfiY pic.twitter.com/kXffAHagOa
— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) September 3, 2022
“Passengers and crew are all fine”, the airline assured, asserting that “all safety procedures were followed, but even so, it was not possible to avoid the aforementioned accident”.
“TAP is naturally collaborating with the local authorities to investigate the circumstances that led to this regrettable situation”, reads the statement from the Portuguese company, which “deeply regrets what happened” and offers “its heartfelt condolences” to the victims’ families.
The news portal Guineenews.org advances that the two security guards who were circulating on the motorcycle “were trying to cross the runway when they were sucked in by one of the engines of the aircraft that had just landed”.
“The tragedy and the opening of an investigation prevented the Portuguese company from boarding the passengers who were supposed to leave for Lisbon”.
Featured image: TAP Air PortugalÂ
