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'Many dead' in Brazil plane crash Brazilian plane crash 'kills 200'
(about 1 hour later)
Scores of people are feared dead after a passenger plane carrying 176 people crashed at Congonhas airport in Sao Paulo, Brazil, starting a major fire. Up to 200 people have been killed after a passenger plane crashed and burst into flames at Congonhas airport in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The state governor said the chances of finding survivors were "practically nil", while a fire official said more may have been killed on the ground. Rescue crews said none of the 176 people on board the Airbus A320 could have survived, while more people were killed on the ground.
The TAM airlines Airbus A320 is thought to have slid off the end of the runway as it landed in very wet conditions. The TAM airlines plane skidded off the runway as it landed in wet conditions and shot over a busy road.
Concerns had been raised about the safety of the runway during heavy rain.Concerns had been raised about the safety of the runway during heavy rain.
There had been persistent, heavy rain in the two hours preceding the accident.There had been persistent, heavy rain in the two hours preceding the accident.
On Monday afternoon, a smaller plane skidded off the runway onto the nearby grass in similar conditions.On Monday afternoon, a smaller plane skidded off the runway onto the nearby grass in similar conditions.
Major fireMajor fire
TAM Express flight 3054 was carrying 170 passengers and six crew when it attempted to land at Congonhas airport in the heart of Sao Paulo. TAM Express flight 3054 was carrying 170 passengers and six crew when it attempted to land at Congonhas airport, the country's busiest which is mainly used for regional flights from other parts of Brazil and South America.
The plane was travelling to the city from Porto Alegre in the south of the country.The plane was travelling to the city from Porto Alegre in the south of the country.
All of a sudden I heard a loud explosion, and the ground beneath my feet shook Elias Rodrigues JesusTAM employee In pictures: Brazil crash Critics predicted disasterAll of a sudden I heard a loud explosion, and the ground beneath my feet shook Elias Rodrigues JesusTAM employee In pictures: Brazil crash Critics predicted disaster
After touching down on the airport's main runway at 1850 (2150 GMT), the passenger jet skidded before sliding across a busy road in a residential area. After touching down on the main runway at 1850 (2150 GMT), the passenger jet skidded before sliding across a busy road in a residential area.
It then struck a depot used by TAM for storing cargo and some fuel.It then struck a depot used by TAM for storing cargo and some fuel.
Brazilian television showed pictures of a major fire at the scene and the emergency services arriving in large numbers to deal with the aftermath of the accident.Brazilian television showed pictures of a major fire at the scene and the emergency services arriving in large numbers to deal with the aftermath of the accident.
An eyewitness, TAM employee Elias Rodrigues Jesus, said the plane had exploded after slamming into the depot. An eyewitness, TAM employee Elias Rodrigues Jesus, said the plane exploded after slamming into the depot.
"All of a sudden I heard a loud explosion, and the ground beneath my feet shook," he told the Associated Press. "All of a sudden I heard a loud explosion, and the ground beneath my feet shook," he told the Associated Press news agency.
"I looked up and I saw a huge ball of fire, and then I smelled the stench of kerosene and sulphur.""I looked up and I saw a huge ball of fire, and then I smelled the stench of kerosene and sulphur."
A doctor at Sao Paulo's mortuary said 30 badly charred bodies had been brought in.A doctor at Sao Paulo's mortuary said 30 badly charred bodies had been brought in.
Sao Paulo state Governor Jose Serra said: "I was told that the temperature inside the plane was 1,000 degrees [1,830 Fahrenheit], so the chances of there being any survivors are practically nil." Sao Paulo State Governor Jose Serra said: "I was told that the temperature inside the plane was 1,000C [1,830F], so the chances of there being any survivors are practically nil."
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva declared three days of national morning for the victims of the crash. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva declared three days of national morning for the victims.
Safety concernsSafety concerns
The BBC's Gary Duffy in Sao Paolo says the weather has been bad for much of the day and there has been concern for some time about safety at Congonhas during heavy rain. The BBC's Gary Duffy in Sao Paulo says the weather has been bad for much of the day and there has been concern for some time about safety at Congonhas during heavy rain.
In February, a judge briefly banned flights in and out of the airport, which is the busiest in Brazil.In February, a judge briefly banned flights in and out of the airport, which is the busiest in Brazil.
Pilots had complained that water was pooling on the surface of the landing strip, making braking difficult and occasionally causing planes to skid out of control.Pilots had complained that water was pooling on the surface of the landing strip, making braking difficult and occasionally causing planes to skid out of control.
Remedial work, including laying a new surface, has been carried out in recent months.Remedial work, including laying a new surface, has been carried out in recent months.
However, a much smaller plane skidded off the runway before stopping on grass in similar weather conditions on Monday. No-one was injured in the incident.
Air safety in Brazil has been a major issue since a crash last year when a passenger plane collided with an executive jet over the Amazon, our correspondent says.Air safety in Brazil has been a major issue since a crash last year when a passenger plane collided with an executive jet over the Amazon, our correspondent says.
Some 154 people died in that incident, which was, at the time, the worst air crash in the country's history.Some 154 people died in that incident, which was, at the time, the worst air crash in the country's history.


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