Samoa Airways team sacrifices to provide important air service for Manu’a Islands
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Two pilots and two engineers from Apia are currently posted in Pago Pago American Samoa to undertake an important daily air service to the islands of Manu’a during the covid-19 lockdown period.
Just before Samoa closed its borders and many rushed to catch the last flights to be with their families as the nation waits out the uncertainties of the deadly coronavirus, this Samoa Airways team of four made the ultimate sacrifice and flew in the opposite direction.
The American Samoa Government had made a special request to Samoa Airways to have a plane on standby to ensure transport and emergency services could be provided for the people of Manu’a, 110 kilometres east of Tutuila.
For the past 3 weeks, Captain Christian Tooala, Captain Peni Maiava and Engineers Lafaele Pati and Fiti Amituanai have been living in American Samoa, away from their families, to serve the needs of our brothers and sisters in American Samoa.
They operate one flight per day to deliver essential services, equipment, food and other supplies. They are also on standby to offer crucial emergency services, and will act as an air ambulance if people need to be evac’d.