An Air Greenland de Havilland Dash 8-200, registration OY-GRH performing flight GL-415 from Nuuk to Narsarsuaq (Greenland) with passengers and crew, was enroute to Narsarsuaq when a private twin Cessna aircraft enroute from Goose Bay,NL (Canada) to Narsarsuaq with 4 people on board declared emergency reporting an engine was losing oil and had to be shut down about 45 minutes prior to estimated arrival in Narsarsuaq. The Joint Arctic Command, responsible for rescue activity, dispatched a helicopter and a Hercules towards the Cessna. Due to weather the Dash 8 entered a hold at Narsarsuaq a couple of minutes later. While the Dash was holding the Cessna, about 30 minutes after the initial emergency call, reported their navigation equipment had failed, too, they were in instrument meteorologic conditions with no sight to ground. The Dash 8 crew chimed in and advised that due to weather in Narsarsuaq it was not prudent to continue to Narsarsuaq, it was decided to reroute the Cessna to Paamiut (Greenland), about half way between Nuuk and Narsarsuaq. The Dash crew informed their passengers about the ongoing rescue activity, left the hold at Narsarsuaq heading west towards the Cessna, found the Cessna and navigated and accompanied the Cessna to Paamiut, where the Cessna was able to land safely about 90 minutes after declaring emergency. The Dash landed in Paamiut as well, refueled, and headed off to return to Nuuk for a safe landing about 4:50 hours after departure from Nuuk and about 1:50 hours after the Cessna made the safe landing in Paamiut.
Greenland’s Joint Arctic Command published the event at their Facebook page stating a “Well Done” to the Air Greenland crew and thanking all parties involved in the rescue of the Cessna.
The Aviation Herald
Air Greenland Dash8 guides private Cessna to safety
