A cargo jet breaks down on the runway of Juan Santamaria International Airport in Alajuela, Costa Rica, Thursday, April 7, 2022. According to the fire department, both the pilot and co-pilot are reported to be in good health, and the accident led to a complete shutdown of the air terminal.
Highlight
- A DHL cargo jet skidded off the runway and broke in half
- This happened on April 7 while landing at San Jose International Airport
- The fire department said the Boeing 757 had taken off from Juan Santamaria Airport
A DHL cargo jet skidded off the runway and broke in half while landing at San Jose International Airport on Thursday, shutting down the airport but not injuring the crew.
The fire department said the Boeing 757 had taken off from Juan Santamaria Airport, west of the capital, but decided to return after a hydraulic system malfunction was detected.
Costa Rica Fire Department Director Hector Chaves said the plane skidded upon landing, twisted and broke in two, exposing its cargo.
“Units were mobilized to remove the pilot and co-pilot,” Chaves said. “Then they applied foam to stop the spill and now they’re working on an earthen dam to keep any fuel from reaching the drainage system.”
A spokesman for cargo carrier DHL said both pilots were not harmed, but one was being medically tested as a precaution.
DHL spokesman Daniel McGrath said the company is working with airport officials to move the plane so flights can resume. He said an inquiry would be conducted to ascertain the cause of the incident.
DHL is a subsidiary of Deutsche Post DHL Group.
Luis Miranda, Costa Rica’s deputy director of civil aviation, said the plane was only 35 miles from the airport when it requested permission to fly to Guatemala City on its planned flight. He said only the pilot and co-pilot were crew members on the plane, which was carrying only 2.5 hours of fuel. ,
The airport administration said the crash would keep the airport closed to incoming and outgoing flights until at least 6 p.m. Some flights were diverted to Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia, about 125 miles northwest of San Jose. Will go
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