Passenger flights resuming at Presque Isle

5 years ago

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — After more than a week without passenger air service in Presque Isle, United Airlines flights are resuming Wednesday evening March 13.

Air service at Presque Isle International Airport resumes March 13 with the first flight set to leave Newark, New Jersey, at 9:55 p.m. and arrive in Presque Isle shortly before midnight, said Kim Smith, public information officer for the city of Presque Isle.

The airport has not seen any passenger air flights since Monday, March 4, when a 50-seat Embraer 145 jet operated by CommuteAir for United Airlines had an accident while landing.

The accident left several people with minor injuries and the plane badly damaged. It also set off a federal investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.

Terry Williams, a spokesman for the NTSB, said that the aircraft was taken to a secure location for further examination, and that a preliminary report on the incident would likely be issued early next week. The full report with an analysis and conclusion of what led to the accident will not be completed and issued for about a year, Williams said.

“We’re still in the very, very early stages of this investigation,” he said. “We’re going to be looking at the engine and the aircraft itself. The standard for our investigation will include talking to any witnesses, gathering information from the pilot, and also gathering information on the weather.”