BBCi: Plane from New York crashes at Guyana airport

[H Azmal 0]

Plane from New York crashes at Guyana airport

 

A plane has crashed and broken in two on landing at Guyana's main airport in the capital, Georgetown, causing injuries but no deaths.

 

The Caribbean Airlines Boeing 737-800 flight BW-523 from New York had 163 people aboard.

 

The plane apparently overshot the runway at Cheddi Jagan International Airport during wet weather.

 

Guyana's president said it halted near a 200-foot (61-metre) ravine that could have resulted in dozens of deaths.

 

"We are very, very grateful that more people were not injured," Bharrat Jagdeo added, quoted by AP news agency.

 

The airport was due to re-open at 1000 local time (1400 GMT).

'Terror on board'

 

The plane had made a stop in Trinidad en route from New York.

 

A woman quoted by Guyana's Kaieteur News service described hearing a loud sound when it landed in Guyana, and said everyone began screaming.

 

"It was terror," she said. "I was praying to Jesus."

 

Her husband opened the emergency door and passengers began escaping, she added.

 

Rescuers struggled in the dark to free other passengers from the wreckage.

 

One woman described how a taxi driver got to the scene before the emergency services and charged her to be driven back to the terminal.

 

The accident occurred at 0132 local time, according to a statement from Caribbean Airlines.

 

There were 157 passengers and six crew on board, it said.

 

Health Minister Leslie Ramsammy told the French news agency AFP one person had suffered a broken leg and several others sustained minor bruises.

 

They are being treated in hospital in Georgetown.

 

Caribbean Airlines, which is majority-owned by Trinidad and Tobago with Jamaica holding a minority stake, does not have a history of serious safety problems.

 

[Waiping 12]

2nd case this week.

Edited July 30, 2011 by Waiping

[Mike P 0]

at least no fatalities.

[Pieter C. 5]

9Y-PBM routing JFK-POS...luckily no deaths...