At least six Americans were injured yesterday when a plane crashed while landing at the Honduran capital’s international airport and split in two.
A local businessman, Pedro Atala, said it was a ‘miracle’ that the accident had not resulted in more injuries, or fatalities.
The commercial jet from Austin, Texas left the runway and veered into a ditch, said Carlos Cordero, deputy head of Honduras’s disaster relief agency Copeco.
A white Gulfstream jet that appears broken in half near the center, lies engulfed in foam sprayed by firefighters, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on Tuesday, May 22, 2018
The private jet crashed off the end of the runway at Tegucigalpa’s airport Tuesday, but the crew and passengers were rescued and reportedly out of danger
Firefighters spray foam on the wreckage of a plane, after it went off the runway at Tocontin International airport and collapsed over a busy boulevard in Tegucigalpa, injuring at least six US passengers
A general view shows rescue workers next to the wreckage of a Gulfstream G200 aircraft that skidded off the runway during landing at Toncontin International Airport in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on May 22
Firefighters arrived at Toncontin airport in Tegucigalpa and used foam to extinguish flames coming from the wreckage.
Mr Atala described joining employees to help put out the flames with fire extinguishers, while assisting the injured – five men and a woman – all of whom were ‘practically unharmed’.
President Juan Orlando Hernandez said on Twitter that all of the wounded were in a stable condition.
At least six US passengers who were flying from Texas, were injured in the accident. Federal Aviation Administration records show the plane registered to TVPX Aircraft Solutions Inc. in North Salt Lake, Utah
NinHonduras’ emergency management agency posted photos showing a twin-engined white Gulfstream 200 jet that appeared broken in half near the centee people were injured in the white Gulfstream’s accident
Tegucigalpa’s airport has long been notorious as one of the more difficult approaches in the hemisphere, as it is surrounded by mountain peaks and residential neighborhoods
A firefighter works at the site of the accident, after foam was sprayed on the wreckage of a plane, which went off the runway at Tocontin International airport and collapsed over a busy boulevard in Tegucigalpa
A firefighter works at the site of the accident, after foam was sprayed on the wreckage of a plane, covering it, to extinguish the flames leaping from the aircraft
Another view of the Gulfstream G200 aircraft, after it skidded off the runway during landing at Toncontin International Airport in Honduras. Firefighters sprayed foam onto the crash and part of the plane appeared to lie across a street.
Honduras’ emergency management agency posted photos showing a twin-engined white Gulfstream 200 jet that appeared broken in half near the center. Firefighters sprayed foam onto the crash and part of the plane appeared to lie across a street.
The FlightAware website said the flight originated in Austin, Texas, Tuesday morning.
Federal Aviation Administration records show the plane registered to TVPX Aircraft Solutions Inc. in North Salt Lake, Utah.
A crane lifts the wreckage of a Gulfstream G200 aircraft that skidded off the runway during landing at Toncontin International Airport in Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Workers are seen at the wreckage of a Gulfstream G200 aircraft that skidded off the runway in Tegucigalpa. In May 2008, a Taca Airlines plane skidded off the runway and crashed into a building, leaving five people dead.
The aircraft that went off the runway and collapsed over a busy boulevard while landing at Toncontin International airport in Tegucigalpa on May 22, 2018 is shown here being removed from the site of the crash
The emergency agency said through Twitter that first responders rescued passengers and crew.
It did not provide the number of those aboard, but said all were alive.
Honduras firefighters posted photos of the crash and initially said there were nine people injured.
Video from the scene showed what appeared to be area residents pulling people out of the damaged fuselage while others sprayed the plane with handheld fire extinguishers.
A soldier keeps watch as emergency workers secure the site following the crash, where miraculously, no one was killed or seriously injured
Authorities asked drivers to avoid the area. Tegucigalpa’s airport has long been notorious as one of the more difficult approaches in the hemisphere, surrounded by mountaintops and residential neighborhoods
The plane appears to have crashed very close to local businesses in Honduras, after leaving the end of the runway at the international airport
This picture shows the aircraft that went off the runway and collapsed over a busy boulevard while landing at Toncontin International airport in Tegucigalpa being removed from the site of the accident
Tegucigalpa’s airport has long been notorious as one of the more difficult approaches in the hemisphere, surrounded by mountaintops and residential neighborhoods.
Authorities asked drivers to avoid the area.
Surrounded by mountains and with a very short runway, the Toncontin airport is considered one of the world’s most treacherous.
In May 2008, a Taca Airlines plane skidded off the runway and crashed into a building, leaving five people dead.
The government is constructing a new international airport about 50 kilometres (31 miles) from the capital, near the Palmerola military air base.