UAE BARQ برق الإمارات – نبضك
Mexican airline Aeromexico says there are no reports of fatalities after one of its planes carrying 101 people crashed near an airport in northern Mexico.
Key points:
- Aeromexico Flight 2431 was bound for Mexico City and crashed shortly after take-off
- All 101 people onboard are reported to have survived but dozens are injured
- Witnesses reportedly heard a “bang” before the plane crashed near the airport
Flight 2431 had 97 passengers and four crew members onboard when it crashed shortly after taking off from Durango International Airport about 4:00pm on Tuesday (local time).
Governor Jose Rosas Aispuro told Mexican television that witnesses told him there was “a bang” and then without warning the plane was on the ground.
TV images showed the severely damaged body of the plane in scrubland and a column of smoke rising into the sky.
PHOTO: Rescue workers and firefighters at the scene of the crash. (Civil Defense Office of Durango Photo via AP)
About 85 people were injured, at least two critically, but Aeromexico tweeted it had no reports of fatalities.
A video posted to Facebook claimed to show one of the pilots from the plane being helped into a car after the crash.
Alejandro Cardoza, a spokesman for the state’s civil protection agency, said despite the fire resulting from the accident, there were no reports of burn victims.
“Many managed to leave the plane on foot,” Mr Cardoza said.
A reporter for network Milenio said some passengers walked to a highway to seek help.
Flight 2431 was an Embraer 190 and bound for the country’s capital Mexico City when it crashed.
The website Planespotters.net said the Brazilian-made medium-range jet was about 10 years old and had seen service with two other airlines before joining the Aeromexico fleet.
Embraer did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
PHOTO: Emergency responders at the Aeromexico plane crash site. (Civil Defence Office of Durango)
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ABC
