Jamaica's Ministry of Transport and Works has also set up a hotline for persons needing information. They may call: 876-501-9522/876-836-5900.

WESTERN BUREAU:

Days after their bags were detained as part of the investigations into the American Airlines Flight 331 accident at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, passengers are still without their checked luggage.

And they may not see those bags anytime soon.

"We have been handing over hand luggage since yesterday (Boxing Day), but the investigators still have to do an inventory of the checked packages to see if any of them have been contaminated," American Airlines' director of corporate communications, Minnette Velez, told The Gleaner yesterday.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has taken charge of investigating the incident which occurred last Tuesday night when the pilot of Flight 331 overshot the runway, stopping metres from the sea on the other side of the Port Royal road.

No timeline for when bags will be returned

Velez said that once they (the bags) are photographed and the investigation is concluded, they will be returned to the passengers.

She was, however, not able to say when that would happen.

"It depends on the situation," she added while not disregarding the possibility that some bags might not be returned at all.

In the meantime, the airline has compensated each passenger to the tune of US$5,000 (J$445,000) to cover the cost of not being able to retrieve their luggage on time.

Approximately 300 bags are being detained, including those belonging to the six crew members who returned to their homes in the United States on Christmas Eve.

Keep close contact

Each passenger is allowed two checked pieces and one carry-on. It is not unusual for passengers to pay to check extra pieces during Christmas.

Velez said once the process is carried out, the passengers will be called in, but she advised that they keep close contact with the Customer Assistance Relief Effort (CARE) team that has been dispatched to assist passengers and their families who were affected.

The team of more than 50 arrived on the island Wednesday morning, said Velez.

"These are all volunteers trained to assist in major aircraft-related emergencies, and they would know much more about what is happening with the bags, so we urge all passengers to communicate with them."

She said the CARE group members will be in the island assisting the passengers until they are no longer needed.

- J.S.