Turbulence on the Tarmac - Vaz stresses Jamaican Government not involved in circumstances leading to diverted Venezuelan flight facing hours of delay on island 

Transport Minister Daryl Vaz said yesterday that he was awaiting a report about what transpired with an aircraft operated by the largest airline in Venezuela which was “forced” to land in Jamaica on Saturday.

Vaz made the disclosure amid claims by the Venezuelan-owned Consortium of Aeronautical Industries and Air Services, S.A. (Conviasa) that passengers onboard the diverted flight “remained in uncertain conditions” for over eight hours “without adequate attention” as stipulated by international standards governing the protection of air transport users.

However, Vaz said his understanding is that the aircraft stopped in Jamaica to refuel, and sought to make it clear that the Government had nothing to do with the private arrangement.

“The Government doesn’t supply the fuel, it’s private operators that provide the fuel at both Norman Manley and Sangster, ” he told The Gleaner, making reference to the country’s two main international airports.

“So, I have to check to see what transpired with that. I am getting a full report,” he added.

In a statement posted on social media, Conviasa claimed that the events that unfolded in Jamaica are “not attributable to its operations or its crew, who acted at all times in accordance with established safety protocols, preserving the integrity of the passengers and the aircraft”.

The commercial flight between Cancún in Mexico and Maiquetía in Venezuela was diverted to Jamaica because of “unforeseen circumstances”, the statement said.

No details were disclosed.

As a result, the aircraft was forced to land in Jamaica, “where serious deficiencies were found in the provision of airport services and ground handling”, the airline claimed.

It did not provide details of the “deficiencies”.

“Conviasa expresses its strongest condemnation of the conduct of the competent authorities in Jamaica for failing to guarantee minimum conditions of assistance, dignified treatment and operational support to passengers and the aircraft during the incident, which significantly aggravated the situation and exposed Venezuelan citizens to unacceptable treatment,” the statement said.

Citing Jamaica’s decision to acquire Venezuela’s stake in Petrojam, the airline charged that “Jamaica has maintained hostile conduct toward the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela”.

It said this constitutes a pattern of actions contrary to Venezuela's legitimate interests.

Conviasa said it will take all necessary steps before competent national and international authorities for the protection of affected passengers and the clarification of the facts.

 livern.barrett@gleanerjm.com