Lead Stories

Howard stands at the site where she helped rescue persons who were aboard the aeroplane.

Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) bus driver Annette Howard is an "angel" sent to rescue the passengers of American Airlines Flight 331, one of her neighbours has declared.

"God saw what was going to happen ... and he sent an angel to rescue those people," Grants Pen resident Audrey Forrest told The Gleaner yesterday.

Noting that Howard's action was not out of character, Forrest said she should be rewarded with a medal of honour for her bravery.

In the rain last week Tuesday night, the diminutive Howard raced to the aeroplane and guided scores of injured passengers to her bus and drove them to hospital.

"I think that was very brave .... very courageous. Not many people would have stopped and did what she did," said Kedisha Gibson, one of Howard's childhood friends.

She described the 32-year-old bus driver as a "people person" who is very humble.

Very proud

Another childhood friend, Daniella Hendricks, said the entire community was proud of what she did, "especially as someone from the ghetto".

"Everybody call her 'hero'," she quickly added.

When The Gleaner caught up with her yesterday, Howard admitted her life has changed since the incident.

"When a walk on the road people see mi and jus start scream ... some people hug me up and tell mi how dem proud a mi," she said with a smile.

Howard started working with JUTC in April 2001 as a conductress. Last April, she started working as a driver after completing the company's in-house training.