Annette Howard, the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) bus driver who assisted more than 100 passengers of an American Airline plane which overran the runway at the Norman Manley International Airport in December, will have her dream come true this week.

She and her family left for Disney World, Orlando, Florida, yesterday, fulfilling a wish she expressed to Prime Minister Bruce Golding when she paid a courtesy call on him.

long-time dream

The Ministry of Transport and Works made the disclosure in a release issued Tuesday

In the face of extreme personal danger, Howard, who was first on the crash scene, scrambled to get more than 100 of the distraught passengers into her bus and drove them to safety at the airport police station.

The PM gave instruction then, for the necessary efforts to be made to help Howard accomplish her long-time dream. Through a concerted effort, a five-day trip was realised for Howard and her family. This involved securing United States visas for family members and sponsorship to cover the cost of air transportation, hotel accommodation and tickets to Disney World. Their other travel expenses are being met by the JUTC.

The visitors, along with a family member from Florida, in the capacity of a chaperone, will be accommodated at Holiday Inn, Orlando, located within the Walt Disney World Resort, from where they will have access to all the Walt Disney theme parks. They return to Jamaica on Labour Day, Monday, May 24.

In the face of extreme personal danger, Howard, who was first on the crash scene, scrambled to get more than 100 of the distraught passengers into her bus and drove them to safety at the airport police station.