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Boeing 737 skids off runway into Florida river | Boeing 737 skids off runway into Florida river |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A passenger plane slid off a runway in the US state of Florida on Friday night, ending up in a river after landing during a thunderstorm. | A passenger plane slid off a runway in the US state of Florida on Friday night, ending up in a river after landing during a thunderstorm. |
Twenty-one people were taken to hospital with minor injuries, officials said. | Twenty-one people were taken to hospital with minor injuries, officials said. |
The chartered Boeing 737, operated by Miami Air International, had flown from Guantanamo Bay in Cuba to a military base in the city of Jacksonville. | The chartered Boeing 737, operated by Miami Air International, had flown from Guantanamo Bay in Cuba to a military base in the city of Jacksonville. |
Passengers say it landed heavily in the storm, skidding into St John's River. | Passengers say it landed heavily in the storm, skidding into St John's River. |
The 136 passengers and seven crew members on board evacuated the Boeing 737-800 via its wings. | The 136 passengers and seven crew members on board evacuated the Boeing 737-800 via its wings. |
"No fatalities reported. We are all in this together," Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry wrote on Twitter after the incident. | "No fatalities reported. We are all in this together," Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry wrote on Twitter after the incident. |
He also said President Donald Trump had offered assistance as the situation was developing. | He also said President Donald Trump had offered assistance as the situation was developing. |
On Saturday a spokeswoman for the US Navy in Jacksonville said that at least four pets checked into the luggage area were presumed to have died due to flooding. | |
"There's water in the cargo hold," Kaylee LaRocque told USA Today. | |
"We are so sad about this situation, that there are animals that unfortunately passed away." | |
'Terrifying' moment | 'Terrifying' moment |
One passenger on the plane, Cheryl Bormann, described the "terrifying" moment it slid off the runway. | One passenger on the plane, Cheryl Bormann, described the "terrifying" moment it slid off the runway. |
"The plane literally hit the ground and bounced - it was clear the pilot did not have total control of the plane, it bounced again," she told CNN. | "The plane literally hit the ground and bounced - it was clear the pilot did not have total control of the plane, it bounced again," she told CNN. |
"We were in the water. We couldn't tell where we were, whether it was a river or an ocean," she said, adding that she could smell jet fuel leaking into the river. | "We were in the water. We couldn't tell where we were, whether it was a river or an ocean," she said, adding that she could smell jet fuel leaking into the river. |
In a news conference, Captain Michael Connor, commanding officer at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, said it was a "miracle" that there had been no serious injuries or fatalities. | In a news conference, Captain Michael Connor, commanding officer at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, said it was a "miracle" that there had been no serious injuries or fatalities. |
Miami Air International is contracted by the US military for its twice-weekly "rotator" service between the US mainland and Guantanamo Bay, Bill Dougherty, a base spokesman said. | Miami Air International is contracted by the US military for its twice-weekly "rotator" service between the US mainland and Guantanamo Bay, Bill Dougherty, a base spokesman said. |
Officials say the people on Friday's flight included civilian and military personnel. | Officials say the people on Friday's flight included civilian and military personnel. |
Boeing released a statement sharing its "well wishes" with those on board. | Boeing released a statement sharing its "well wishes" with those on board. |
It said it was providing technical assistance to the US National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the incident. | It said it was providing technical assistance to the US National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the incident. |
The aerospace giant has been under increased scrutiny following two fatal crashes involving its 737 Max 8 planes - a different model to the one involved in the incident on Friday. | The aerospace giant has been under increased scrutiny following two fatal crashes involving its 737 Max 8 planes - a different model to the one involved in the incident on Friday. |