Chaos at Haiti Airport Calmed by Air Force

[tekisui]

Source: CNN

Washington (CNN) -- Haiti's Port-au-Prince airport, now critical for the quick delivery of supplies and aid, was an uncontrolled "mess" when the Air Force arrived Wednesday night to rehabilitate the facility, according to the commander of one of the Air Force's elite special operations units send to Haiti.

One of the biggest problems early on was that for more than a day after the earthquake, the airport was in disarray, Lt. Col. Brett Nelson said. Planes landed and parked just about anywhere.

"When we initially established airfield control last night, that followed 24 hours of uncontrolled activity," Nelson said.

The situation forced delays for arriving aircraft Thursday. At one point, Nelson said, there were 44 planes parked at the airport, but only two fuel trucks to refuel the planes and two tow carts for moving the planes.

One very large plane was on the tarmac in need of more fuel and it took more than six hours to get that plane out of the way.

The airport, used to handling about 25 flights daily, had 74 flights on Wednesday and 55 flights by midafternoon on Thursday, CNN's Chris Lawrence reported from the airport.

more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/01/14/us.haiti.airport/index.html?hpt=T2

[madokie]

1. I'm proud of the response our fine President has initiated

and with the pride the service members will do their jobs with

[lamp_shade]

2. That's what you call "gettin' it done". Thanks Mr. President.