Toronto- December 17, 1997 - The union representing flight attendants on Air Canada Flight 646 will participate in the investigation into the accident. More than thirty people were injured when their plane slid off the end of the runway in Fredericton last night.
Responding quickly to news of the crash, Denise Hill, President of the Airline Division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, asked the Transport Safety Board for observer status for a union representative. “We want to find out what happened and promote action to ensure that this type of accident doesn’t occur in the future,” said Ms. Hill.
France Pelletier, the Division Health and Safety Chairperson, is on her way to Fredericton and will be working closely with the officials from the Transport Safety Board and Air Canada. It is expected that preliminary results from their investigation may take several days.
Because of their specialized knowledge of airline procedures and their training as safety professionals, flight attendants can often make a significant contribution to investigations of aircraft safety.
“In an accident such as this, the flight attendants’ key role is to evacuate the aircraft safely,” said Hill, “but we also have a role to play in identifying what went wrong and finding solutions.”
Upon hearing of the accident, CUPE moved quickly to ensure that a union representative was present to offer assistance to the flight attendants.
The Airline Division of CUPE represents 8,500 flight attendants with Air Canada and other major Canadian carriers.
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For further information, contact Denise Hill (416) 798-3399