Praise for air emergency response

The calm and professional approach of the Westray airfield team to the emergency landing of a private plane on the island has been praised by Councillor Mellissa Thomson, North Isles Councillor and Vice-Chair of the Development and Infrastructure Committee.  

The private plane, with one pilot on board and no passengers, was bound for Wick from the Faroes when the aircraft began experiencing power issues.  

With the pilot declaring a mayday situation, emergency advice from air traffic control at Kirkwall Airport was for the pilot to land in Westray, with the airfield team still on the ground following normal inter-isles air operations.  

The aircraft subsequently landed successfully with the assistance of the airfield team with no injuries to the pilot or those on the ground.  

Councillor Mellissa Thomson said: “This would have been a very worrying situation for all – for the pilot, for air traffic control crew at Kirkwall Airport and for our team on the ground in Westray . I’m very relieved it was a situation that was quickly resolved thanks to the calm and professional approach of all involved. 

“Our airfield staff in the isles are vital to the smooth running of the inter isles air service in Orkney. They take part in regular training and emergency exercises – with the latest of those having actually just taken place in Westray over the summer.    

“These exercises – coordinated by the Council’s Airfields Superintendent through our Marine Services and Transportation Team – ensure that the team are well prepared for emergencies, meaning that they can keep calm and collected during an incident as they know exactly how to respond.  

“I thank them and the staff at Kirkwall Airport for their work today, including Loganair pilot Alex Rendall, who alerted Kirkwall air traffic control to the fact that the Westray Airfield fire crew were still at the airfield. This prompted the advice to the pilot to land at Westray with fire cover, rather than try to make for Kirkwall. 

“The response across the board was textbook – and incredibly well executed.  Well done to all.”