Caribbean Airlines – A plane carrying 163 people has crashed and split in two after landing in rainy conditions in Guyana’s main airport, causing several injuries but no deaths.
The Boeing 737-800 Caribbean Airlines flight from New York carrying 157 passengers and six crew members to the Cheddi Jagen international airport in the capital of Guyana, Georgetown.
Guyana’s President Bharrat Jagdeo said the plane, which had made a stopover in Trinidad before, crashed on the runway, just stopped about a meter Canyon 61 years, which could have caused dozens of deaths.
Jagdeo said: “We are very grateful that more people were not injured,”said authorities closed the airport, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded and delayed dozens of flights.
Ramsingh Geeta, a U.S. citizenwho escaped with bruises on his knees, said passengers had begun to applaud the touchdown “when he spoke loudly.”
A woman quoted by Kaieteur News Guyana service they heard a loud sound when the plane landed after that everyone started screaming.
“It was terror,” he said. “I was praying to Jesus.”
Her husband opened the emergency door and the passengers began to flee, he said.
“Serious injuries”
The accident took place in 0132 (0532 GMT) local time, according to a Caribbean Airlines.
Guyana authorities struggled at first to remove passengers without proper field lights and other emergency equipment.
“About 100 people received medical care, with four hospitalized for serious injuries,” said Maharaj devant, the transport minister of Trinidad, where the Caribbean airline is based.
He said the company was sending a team to Guyana to help investigate the accident.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Enrico Woolford, a journalist from Guyana, said that “although the conditions were damp, the Meteorological Office in Guyana are saying that the cause of the accident is not only because of the weather.”
Caribbean Airlines, based in Trinidad-based airline is the largest company in the region, operating at least five daily flights.
