A cargo airplane broke up during an emergency landing in Costa Rica on Thursday, in an accident that provoked the temporary closure of the international airport in San Jose.
Cargo Plane Crash Lands, Splits Into Half At #CostaRica Airport
— News18.com (@news18dotcom) April 8, 2022
More here: https://t.co/TFndHy33zd pic.twitter.com/pJ26spb3d1
Smoke was billowing from the bright yellow plane of German logistics giant DHL as it ground to a halt, having slid off the runway when it spun and broke up around the rear wheels.
A DHL 757 plane crashed in Costa Rica earlier today after reporting hydraulic problems. 🙏 #Travel #CostaRica #DHL #PlaneCrash pic.twitter.com/Aa0baAjAOR
— Bonita Jamaica (@BonitaJamaica) April 7, 2022
Two crew members aboard were "in a good condition," said the chief of Costa Rica's firefighters, Hector Chaves.
Nonetheless, the Guatemalan pair were sent to hospital as a precaution "for a medical check-up," according to Guido Vasquez, a Red Cross worker.
The pilot was shaken up but both crew were conscious and "remember everything vividly," added Vasquez.
DHL 757 crashes after making an emergency return landing at San Jose Juan Santamaria Airport in Costa Rica. Injuries currently unknown.
— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) April 7, 2022
📹 MonumentalCR pic.twitter.com/NxoMIeO6PG
The accident happened just before 10:30 am (1630 GMT) after the Boeing-757 plane, which had taken off from the Juan Santamaria international airport outside San Jose, was forced to return 25 minutes later for an emergency landing due to a mechanical failure.
https://twitter.com/ZOONewsTV/status/1512122517229834243
The crew apparently had alerted local authorities to a hydraulic problem.
The airport was closed until 6:00 pm.