A plane taking off from Lima International Airport in Peru hits a fire truck and bursts into flames on the runway
Two people were killed after a plane taking off from Lima International Airport hit a fire truck on the runway and caught fire.
Key points:
- The plane and the fire truck were in motion when they collided on the runway
- An investigation has been opened into the accident
- Jorge Chávez International Airport closed operations immediately after the incident
On Friday local time, authorities said the passengers and crew of the LATAM Airlines plane were all safe, but two firefighters in the truck were killed.
Lima Airport Partners, the company operating Jorge Chávez Airport, said in a tweet that operations at the facility had been suspended.
There were 102 passengers and six crew members on board the Airbus A320neo.
“Our teams are providing the necessary care to all passengers, who are in good condition,” the company said.
Luis Ponce La Jara, general commander of the fire brigade, said two firefighters were killed and one injured when the truck they were in was struck by the plane.
The plane and the fire truck were in motion when they collided.
President Pedro Castillo expressed his condolences to the firefighters’ families in a tweet.
Flight LA2213 was taking off from Lima’s main airport en route to the Peruvian town of Juliaca.
Videos on social media showed smoke coming from a large plane on the runway.
According to firefighters, the incident was registered at 3:25 p.m. and four rescue units were mobilized.
The prosecutor’s office in Callao, where the airport is located, said an investigation into the cause of the crash had been opened.
Aviation authorities said operations at Jorge Chávez International Airport were suspended until 1 p.m. local time on Saturday.
Flights would be direct to other airports in the meantime.
Reuters
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