Military plane carrying 142 people skids off the runway and crashes into a RIVER during botched landing at Jacksonville airport
- A Miami Air International Boeing 737 crashed into St. Johns River while landing at Naval Air Station on Friday night
- The plane was transporting 142 military personnel back from Guantanamo Bay
- All people on board the aircraft were rescued, and two passengers were treated for minor injuries
- The White House phoned Jacksonville’s mayor to offer assistance
Fire and Rescue crews rushed to Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida, on Friday night after a military charter plane carrying 142 people skidded off the runway and crashed into a river.
The Miami Air Boeing 737 was returning from Guantanamo Bay when it ended up in St. Johns River following the botched landing, which occurred shortly after 9.30pm.
The plane was not fully submerged in the water, and all passengers were evacuated safely.
Two people were treated for minor injuries, according to CBS.
The Miami Air Boeing 737 was returning from Guantanamo Bay when it ended up in St. Johns River following the botched landing
Pictures show the plane in shallow water, with crews working to control jet fuel which had spilled out of the aircraft
The plane was carrying military personnel, with one woman taking to Twitter to reveal her spouse was on board the jet.
‘My husband coming off deployment [in Guantanamo] is on this plane,’ she wrote.
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry kept citizens updated on the situation as it unfolded, revealing that the White House has called to offer its assistance.
Late on Friday, teams were working to control jet fuel that had leaked out of the aircraft and into the water.
The 18-year-old Miami Air International jet sustained minimal damage.
The cause of the botched landing will be investigated.
The flight was returning from Guantanamo Bay in Cuba