On October 25, a British-Italian pilot was on his way across the Davis Strait from Goose Bay in Canada to Narsarsuaq in a single-engine Cessna. Due to bad weather in South Greenland, the pilot decided to head towards Nuuk, which was his alternative airport. This would prove to be fatal and cost him his life.
During the descent towards Nuuk, the plane hit Sermitsiaq at an altitude of 3,500 feet – just over a kilometer high. This triggered a rescue operation in which Naviair, the Armed Forces, the Fire Service, the Greenland Ombudsman, Air Greenland and the Greenland Police were involved. Due to bad weather in the area, it took three days before the plane was located – and another week passed before the deceased pilot was rescued by specially trained personnel from the armed forces.
Now, Naalakkersuisut Chairman Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Police Director Bjørn Bay have thanked everyone who participated in the extensive rescue operation and search. This happened on Friday afternoon, when the participants were invited to coffee and cake at the fire station in Nuuk.
- As a team, they have all carried out an extraordinary effort in connection with the accident at Sermitsiaq, says Police Director Bjørn Bay.
- The team ensured very high quality coordination, the investigation, contact with foreign authorities and, not least, the rescue of the pilot under extremely difficult conditions on a steep cliffside.
Diploma, reward and coin
The police chief acknowledged the effort with a diploma, reward and the Greenland Police coin. Bjørn Bay also conveyed a big greeting with a “Thanks for the effort” from the chairman of Naalakkersuisut, Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
Friday’s honor ceremony was very important to Bjørn Bay, a deeply touched police chief tells Sermitsiaq.
- Having the opportunity to personally honor and say thank you for a very well-executed effort to people who have done something completely extraordinary, is always something that touches me deeply, makes me proud and happy – at the same time that I share the sorrow over the loss of human life that has also happened from time to time, says Bjørn Bay.
- The effort that a team of skilled employees from the Armed Forces, the Fire Department, the Greenland Ombudsman, Air Greenland and the Greenland Police carried out in connection with the rescue of the pilot was precisely such an effort. The team carried out a tactically very fine and difficult piece of work far beyond the ordinary and ensured that the family received certainty and peace.
