The first aircraft – a coastguard Dash 8- has landed at Princess Juliana Sint Maarten airport after the devastating hurricane Irma, naval commander Peter Jan de Vin tweeted. They are working as fast as they can to get as much as possible done before hurricane Jose is expected to hit tomorrow (Saturday). A Dutch navy ship unloaded emergency supplies while a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines cargo aircraft will send 60 tonnes of supplies including generators, solar panels and canvas to mend roofs. The Dutch airline made the plane available to the Red Cross free of charge.
Kustwacht Dash op Sint Maarten. Vliegveld bruikbaar en dat is erg goed nieuws. Alleen bij daglicht en militaire kist @kon_marine #irma pic.twitter.com/X4qQms8cLy
— Peter Jan de Vin (@C_ZMCARIB) September 8, 2017
The plane landed at the Sint Maarten airport on Thursday night, local time, according to De Vin’s Twitter feed. Only planes able to land without the help of the air traffic control tower can currently use the airport. This test plane carried a small detachment of extra police officers. They will be deployed to help maintain public order and security on the island.
Zr.Ms. Pelikaan wordt ontladen te Sint Maarten. @kon_marine @korpsmariniers #irma pic.twitter.com/oU9hUdCMaY
— Peter Jan de Vin (@C_ZMCARIB) September 7, 2017
Air France, Tui Netherlands and KLM have suspended their flights at least until 12 September. Hurricane Jose -heading the same direction as hurricane Irma- is expected to be a category 3 hurricane, while hurricane Irma was a category 5. But with the current damage at Sint Maarten Jose could have the same impact as Irma.
A Royal Dutch Air Force KDC-10 bringing marines to Sint Maarten.
20170907 KDC-10 of @Kon_Luchtmacht at @VlbEindhoven preparing for a flight to 'the West', bringing Marines towards St Maarten pic.twitter.com/3fe3fsEmvu
— Joris van Boven (@JorisvanBoven) September 7, 2017
