A moving commemoration of the crash on March 24, 2001

““The most tragic event the island has ever known and the worst memory I have.” These are the words of Bruno Magras, honorary president of the Territorial Collectivity. On March 24, 2001, at 4:47 p.m., Air Caraïbes Flight TX 1501, arriving from Princess Juliana Airport in Sint Maarten, crashed in the hills above the Public neighborhood. Twenty people died in the accident: two crew members, including Captain Jean-Paul Jerpan; eighteen passengers; and Augustin Questel, a resident of Public. On Tuesday, March 24, dozens of people gathered at the crash site to pay tribute to the victims.
While relatively low-key in recent years, the ceremony commemorating the 25th anniversary of the accident brought together numerous officials alongside the victims’ loved ones. Present were the president of the Collectivité, Xavier Lédée; the deputy prefect of Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy, Joris Eberhardt; the commander of the STIS and the gendarmerie; as well as Father Rulx-André Alcineus, the parish priest, who celebrated a Mass in memory of the deceased. Air Caraïbes was represented by Noëlla Abitbol, Commercial Director for the Antilles and French Guiana.
“Twenty lives were cut short, twenty destinies, twenty stories, twenty families forever shattered,” stated Bruno Magras. Represented by Richard Ramassamy, head of the aircraft rescue and firefighting service, airport director Fabrice Danet wrote: “Twenty-five years have passed, but the memory of those who lost their lives remains intact. In a region where air travel is essential, their memory remains deeply intertwined with our daily lives, our safety commitments, and our duty of vigilance.”
Senator Micheline Jacques remarked: “Every time we pass this spot, we cannot help but think of that tragedy.” ” President Lédée stated: “Many of us still remember that day: the sound of the sudden engine surge, that deep rumble, then the silence… the sirens of the emergency services… and the emotion that swept across the entire island.”
After the speeches, wreaths were laid before the memorial stone engraved with the names of all the victims. Father Rulx-André Alcineus then celebrated a memorial Mass.
Five years after the accident, in 2006, the head of training at Air Caraïbes was sentenced to a one-year suspended prison term and barred from holding any position involving the management of flight operations for a period of two years. Air Caraïbes was also found guilty and had to pay a fine of 250,000 euros.