A Boeing 737 jetliner filled with vacationers crashed in a thunderstorm and broke apart as it slid onto the runway on a Caribbean island. Miraculously, only one of the 131 people on board died.
A Boeing 737 jetliner filled with vacationers crashed in a thunderstorm and broke apart as it slid onto the runway on a Caribbean island. Miraculously, only one of the 131 people on board died. (AP Photo)
The plane hit short of the runway on Colombia's San Andres Island and skidded on its belly as the fuselage fractured and bits of landing gear and at least one engine were ripped off. The jet wound up on one end of the runway, crumpled and in pieces, as passengers scrambled or were helped to safety. (AP Photo)
Of the 125 passengers and six crew members aboard the Aires airline jet, the only one killed was a 68-year-old woman, Amar Fernandez de Barreto. Initial examination indicated that the single fatality may have been caused by a heart attack. San Andres Governor Pedro Gallardo said "It was a miracle and we have to give thanks to God." (AP Photo)
Amateur video broadcast on Colombian television showed police and emergency teams helping passengers out of the debris. Firefighters quickly doused the beginnings of a fire on a wing, police Gen. Orlando Paez said. (AP Photo)
Officials were investigating a range of possible causes and looking into reports that Aires Flight 8520 was hit by lightning before the crash on the resort island according to Colombian air force Col. David Barrero. The pilot's skill kept the plane from colliding with the airport. (AP Photo)
Officials said 119 people were treated or checked at clinics and five of them were seriously injured. Airline representative Erika Zarante said four Brazilians, two Germans, two Costa Ricans and two French citizens also were on the plane. At least five U.S. citizens were on the plane. (AP Photo)
The U.S. Embassy in Colombia said that four Americans and one U.S. permanent resident suffered injuries. The embassy said one critically injured American was being flown to Bogota for care, while the others were treated and released. (AP Photo)
Twenty other passengers were treated at another clinic, according to the national civil aviation agency. Among the seriously injured was a 12-year-old girl who suffered a broken pelvis. A 1½-year-old boy among the passengers wasn't listed among those with serious injuries. The pilot suffered some cuts to his face and was under observation. He identified him as Wilson Gutierrez. (AP Photo)
Dr. Robert Sanchez, the director of Amor de Patria Hospital on San Andres said "It's incredible. For the dimension (of the accident), there should be more." (AP Photo)
One passenger told Colombian television that she heard a "loud noise" just before landing. Other causes are also being investigated. (AP Photo)
The accident occurred so suddenly that the pilot did not report an emergency to the control tower, said Col. Donald Tascon, deputy director of the civil aeronautics agency. (AP Photo)
The plane's low altitude as it prepared to land — perhaps 100 feet just before the crash — may have averted worse damage. (AP Photo)
The jet crashed at 1:49 a.m. on the island, a resort area of 78,000 people about 120 miles (190 kilometers) east of the Nicaraguan coast. (AP Photo)
The airline, Aerovias de Integracion Regional SA, said it has about 20 planes, including 10 Boeing 737-700 jets. It said in a Twitter posting that it was "working and investigating with the aeronautical authorities to determine the causes." Boeing said the 737-700 jet left the factory in 2003. It was not clear whether Aires was the first operator. (AP Photo)
Scattered pieces of the plane blocked part of the 2,380-meter runway. Aviation experts said it was too early in the investigation to speculate about what caused the accident. (AP Photo)
