The safety protocols and emergency response measures of the first responders in American Samoa as well as of Talofa Airways came under intense scrutiny during a Senate hearing held in American Samoa. 

The session, chaired by Senator Olo Uluao Letuli, was convened by the Senate Select Investigative Committee (S.S.I.C.) to address significant concerns following a recent incident involving one of the airline's aircraft.

The hearing was prompted by an incident on July 26, when Talofa Airways Flight 511 experienced a malfunction upon landing at Tafuna Airport. 

The front tires of the aircraft reportedly failed, leading to the collapse of the nose gear. 

The committee called upon key figures, including the directors of American Samoa's Public Safety and Emergency services and Talofa Airways owner Toleafoa Jeffrey Hunter, to provide answers and insights into the safety measures in place.

Senator Letuli emphasised that the primary goal of the hearing was to ensure that adequate safety protocols are established and maintained to prevent such incidents in the future. The senator stressed the need for vigilance and proactive measures to safeguard passengers and crew.

During the hearing, President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean voiced grave concerns about the local emergency response. 

He questioned why it took more than 20 minutes for first responders to arrive at the scene, citing passenger accounts of a delayed response. 

The local authorities explained that Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) policies restrict their presence on the runway during active landing operations. According to these guidelines, first responders are not permitted on the runway unless notified by the pilot of an incident.

This explanation did not satisfy the members of the S.S.I.C., who were critical of the local authorities for what they perceived as an attempt to deflect responsibility by citing F.A.A. regulations. 

"There is no excuse here," the senators asserted, arguing that the delay in response could have had dire consequences if the situation had worsened. They urged local authorities to be more proactive and employ common sense in emergencies.

Toleafoa Jeffrey Hunter, the owner of Talofa Airways, defended his pilot's actions during the incident. 

He explained that the pilot's immediate priority was to safely stop the aircraft and turn off all electrical systems, which precluded the possibility of notifying local authorities right away. 

He assured the committee that the pilot had acted with the safety of passengers as the foremost concern.

Senator Tuaolo noted that this was not the first incident involving Talofa Airways, raising additional concerns about the airline's operational safety. 

The S.S.I.C. members expressed dissatisfaction with the local emergency response and questioned the overall safety of Talofa Airways' fleet, given the age of its aircraft. 

One senator requested a detailed report on the maintenance and servicing of the airline's planes, which were noted to be from the 1970s and operate multiple flights daily between American Samoa and Samoa.

It was also raised during the hearing that fares are increasing, and with six to eight flights daily to and from American Samoa, it is crucial to ensure the safety of the aircraft. The well-being of passengers is of utmost importance and must be prioritised.

In response, Toleafoa assured the committee that the aircraft undergo regular maintenance and service checks. 

However, he acknowledged that mechanical failures can still occur. 

He also mentioned that an ongoing F.A.A. investigation is examining the specific causes of the incident.

The F.A.A.'s investigation concluded there were no violations of United States Aviation Regulations related to the incident. 

In a letter dated July 30, FAA Airport Certification Safety Inspector Will J. Brown confirmed that the incident did not breach 14 CFR Part 139 regulations and deemed the matter closed under these regulations. 

The F.A.A. had been coordinating with the territory's Airports Assistant Director, Tavita Fuimaono, who had provided a report detailing the incident. 

The report noted that the aircraft’s nose gear had collapsed but did not retract, and the pilot had not issued a distress call, contributing to the initial delay in response.

Additionally, the Samoa Civil Aviation Division confirmed that the aircraft involved had been inspected in April for a Certificate of Airworthiness, with no issues identified during subsequent surveillance in June.