What was supposed to be a routine patrol of the Harbour View area turned into the biggest event of Sergeant Mark Harris' career.

Harris' group, from the Operations Support Team, and other units received a call about the now-infamous American Airlines accident. As an 18-year veteran of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, he has been present at more than a few scenes, but the sight of the downed aircraft and crying passengers was a new one.

"The magnitude of this one is bigger in terms of the safety of more people being considered," he said. "And it was a quick call, so there was no time to plan."

Harris and his team were among the first personnel on the scene and no time was wasted to assist the injured from the plane. After liaising with the pilot and crew, they ascertained that there were no fatalities, and that the injuries were not life-threatening.

He said he then dispatched two buses, one from Jamaica Urban Transit Company and a Coaster, and along with police units and other motorists carried the injured to hospital. He would later travel with the flight crew on another Coaster to the airport. But the wreck posed another problem.

"We then blocked the road so that no vehicles could drive on the jet fuel that had been spilled," he explained.

Assisted pilot

Even while he ensured others were safe, his shoes felt the brunt of the leaking fuel but he assured us he was fine. A trained first-aider, Harris even assisted the pilot who, it was suspected, had a broken arm. Like others, Harris is commending the swift response.

"There can be no complaint about the actions of the police. Even the pilot was commending us," he said. "I felt we did our best. What helped us, too, was that they (the passengers) were not seriously injured. Then we might have had a problem because you would have needed other equipment, like stretchers."

He was also quick to point out that it was a team effort, including the ambulance personnel.

daviot.kelly@gleanerjm.com