A Million-Dollar Aircraft of the Tropic Air Fleet is Damaged at the Peten Airport

A Tropic Air seven-seater was toppled over by a freak storm at the Mundo Maya Airport in Flores, Peten, Guatemala on Tuesday evening.  The aircraft, a GA-eight Airvan, was parked at the airport when strong winds and rain passed over the area. The million-dollar aircraft flipped and ended belly-up, sustaining extensive damages. Today, News Five spoke with Tropic Air’s President John Greif the third via phone about the incident.

On the Phone: John Greif III, President, Tropic Air

“Well, we have a scheduled flight to Flores, Peten, from Belize International everyday and it was that flight. It landed in – the weather wasn’t bad – and it landed around five p.m. and after the passengers and the baggage were taken out, the pilot was getting ready to leave the airport because he spends the night, as well as the plane, when, I don’t know what it was, some kind of freak storm came out of nowhere and lifted it up and turned the parked plane upside down.”

Andrea Polanco

“And so the plane was completely destroyed?”

On the Phone: John Greif III

“No. It was severely damaged but I doubt it is re-buildable.”

Andrea Polanco

“And a plane like that, Mr. Greif, what’s the value?”

On the Phone: John Greif III

“About a million Belize [dollars]. It is worth pointing out that it is one of our smaller planes. It is only a six passenger plane; it is not one of the twelve caravans that we have.”

Andrea Polanco

“I would imagine that it is covered – insured?”

On the Phone: John Greif III

“Yes. Yes it is. Actually, it is the insurance company that makes the decision whether it is rebuilt or replaced. “

Andrea Polanco

“Mr. Greif, and in this situation, none of your employees – the pilot – was injured or anything?”

On the Phone: John Greif III

“No, there was no one near the aircraft. No one in it and no one near it.”

Andrea Polanco

“And there was no notification from the weather officials there in Flores?”

On the Phone: John Greif III

“No.  No.”

The freak storm reportedly destroyed signage and plants around the airport. Tropic’s aircraft was the only one to be damaged by the storm.