Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A facebook post by one the passengers that was on Talofa Airways Flight 511 (Apia/ PPG) shows this photo of the aircraft sitting on its nose — saying it happened after its front wheel tilted and popped. The post included photos of the passengers after safely evacuating the aircraft, standing to the side of the tarmac, and inside the airport terminal.

The post does not specifically identify if the aircraft incident happened while it taxied the runway at Tafuna International Airport after it landed or when it landed on the runway.

According to the post, no passengers were injured, including the pilot. It also credits the pilot with bravery and confidence, as he steered the aircraft to safety, when the incident occurred.

The Samoa Observer has reported the incident, saying “eight passengers on a Talofa Airways flight from Apia to Pago Pago on Monday believe they have their pilot to thank for their safety…

“The accident has led to a civil aviation investigation,” it reports.

According to the Samoa Observer, owner of Talofa Airways, Toleafoa Jeffrey Hunter said that there was an investigation underway. 

“The most important thing is the plane landed, it had no problems and also the people,” Toleafoa told the Samoa Observer.

“Any other information about what happened, there is an ongoing investigation.” 

Asked who was handling the investigation, Toleafoa told the Observer it’s “the company and the C.A.A. (Civil Aviation Authority)”. 

Samoa News reached out to Talofa Airways locally for a comment but they were not answering their phones. There has been no public announcement by the airline or by local airport officials as to the incident that happened.

It’s unknown if FAA has been notified and an investigation is in the works on the American Samoa side, as the incident occurred at the local airport, not Samoa.

An employee of Samoa Air said the incident happened on Sunday afternoon.

In the meantime, Samoa News has been told by an employee at the Pago Pago International Airport that Talofa Airways is continuing to fly the Pago route, as it had two aircraft providing services. There has been no public announcement that the airline has cut back on its Apia/ PPG flights.