Pilot of ill-fated CAL flight has 18 years experience

The Trinidadian pilot who flew the ill-fated airliner that overshot a runway in Guyana and broke in two has been a pilot for about 18 years.

And according to reports in the local media in Trinidad Fareed Dean, 51, always made the safety of his passengers a priority.

One newspaper interviwed Dean's brother, Fayad, at the family's Chaguanas home.

The Express newspaper said Fayad told its reporter, "Our family is thankful that nobody died and there was only one serious injury. It's really sad and unfortunate what happened...and our prayers goes out to the all those who were affected."

Fayad told the paper that his brother was able to speak with his wife for a few minutes to assure her that he was OK. However he said there has been no further communication because of restrictions imposed as a full scale investigation takes place into the incident.

He added that his brother must be very traumatised because he is always very concerned about people's welfare, whether he knows them or not. "He is responsible for the lives of every passenger and crew persons and that was always his main priority when he is in the air," Fayad said.

There were 157 passengers and six crew members on board aircraft Boeing 737-800 that overshot the runway at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport in rainy weather and crashed through a chain-link fence, before breaking in two.

CAL's Chairman, Nicholas George told reporters Saturday it's a miracle that the plane did not burst into flames. he was also thankful that no one died.