- 1.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1989
GALLANTRY AWARDS FOR 3 MEN IN AIRPORT RESCUE
THE QUEEN HAS APPROVED AWARDS FOR GALLANTRY AND BRAVE CONDUCT TO TWO FIREMEN AND A CIVILIAN WHO TOOK PART IN THE RESCUE OPERATION FOLLOWING THE CRASH OF AN AIRLINER AT HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON AUGUST 31 LAST YEAR.
THE QUEEN'S GALLANTRY MEDAL HAS BEEN AWARDED TO FIREMAN LI TIM-SHING AND TO FIREMAN LUI TAK-WAH.
THE QUEEN'S COMMENDATION FOR BRAVE CONDUCT HAS BEEN AWARDED ΤΟ MR WONG KWAI-LEUNG, WHO WAS A PASSENGER ON THE CAAC TRIDENT JET.
THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED AT ABOUT 9.20 AM AS THE JETLINER LANDING AT KAI TAK, ON A FLIGHT FROM CANTON. IT WAS CARRYING 11 AND 78 PASSENGERS.
WAS CREW
THE AIRCRAFT PLUNGED INTO THE KOWLOON BAY NULLAH WITH A FIRE IN THE TAIL SECTION, WHICH CAME TO REST ON THE SEAWALL. THE FUSELAGE
THE SECTION JUST FORWARD OF THE WINGS RUPTURED AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBMERGED.
NOSE
SECTION
OF
FIREMAN LI TOOK AN ACTIVE PART IN RESCUING THE OCCUPANTS OF THE CRASHED AIRCRAFT. AT THAT POINT IN TIME, THE FIRE IN THE NO. 2
STILL ENGINE IN THE TAIL SECTION WAS
BURNING AS IT COULD NOT BE REACHED BY THE JETS FROM THE FIRE APPLIANCES ON LAND. THE FIRE POSED A SERIOUS THREAT AS IT COULD HAVE TRIGGERED AN EXPLOSION FROM THE SPILLED AVIATION FUEL IN THE VICINITY.
THE THE LI
SHORE FIREMAN LI TOOK A HOSE LINE FROM THE
AND SWAM TO THE
CLIMB UP TO AIRCRAFT. WITH THE HELP OF A COLLEAGUE HE MANAGED VERY HOT AND SLIPPERY REAR FUSELAGE AND SUCCESSFULLY EXTINGUISHED FIRE. THIS WAS A MAJOR FACTOR IN THE RESCUE OPERATION AND FIREMAN SHOWED EXCEPTIONAL COURAGE AND SKILL.
MEANWHILE, FIREMAN LUI. HAVING HELPED TO RESCUE TWO PASSENGERS
GAIN TRAPPED IN THEIR SEATS, ATTEMPTED TO
ACCESS TO
SUBMERGED
COCKPIT.
THE
THIS
WAS
EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT
BECAUSE THE
WIRING
TO PASSAGE AND OTHER WRECKAGE, WATER. THE MURKY OF EXPLOSION FROM
THE
THE
COCKPIT WAS OBSTRUCTED BY SHARP DEBRIS, AND THE
LACK ALMOST TOTAL
OF VISIBILITY IN IN ADDITION, THERE WAS THE EVER PRESENT RISK BURNING NO. 2 ENGINE.
RECOVER THE SIX CREW MEMBERS WHO HAD BEEN WERE DEAD.
FIREMAN LUI EVENTUALLY MANAGED ΤΟ ENTER
IN
THE
THE COCKPIT COCKPIT. ALL
AND
SIX
/TO WORK