A Seaborne Airlines pilot made an emergency landing of his Twin Otter seaplane in St. Thomas harbor Saturday morning after an "issue" with one of the engines, which was shut down.
Seaborne president and chief executive officer Omer ErSelcuk said Saturday he did not have any details. ErSelcuk said Sunday there was a problem with an oil pressure light.
The seaplane landed near the outer part of the harbor instead of closer to the waterfront. The plane had 11 passengers on board but ErSelcuk said no one was hurt. He said passengers were rerouted through Seaborne’s Sea Shuttle operation at Cyril E. King Airport.
“They were about one or two hours late,” he said.
He said the plane still had one of its two engines operating, but Sea Tow was called to assist the plane back to its harbor base to prevent strain on that one engine.
The plane had departed St. Thomas midmorning bound for St. Croix, but ErSelcuk said it turned around just outside the harbor.
ErSelcuk credited extensive training of the crew, and the plane having two pilots and two engines, for the seaplane returning safely.
Ed. note: An earlier version of this story indicated that the aircraft "apparently lost power in one of its engines." ErSelcuk denied that the seaplane lost power in one engine.
