Plane hits fire truck during takeoff in Peru, 2 firefighters killed

Lima:

Two firefighters were killed at Lima’s airport on Friday when a passenger plane hit their fire engine during takeoff and then crashed on the runway, officials said.

The airline LATAM, which operated the domestic flight, said 102 passengers were on board the plane, but added that “no passengers or crew members lost their lives.”

Footage captured by witnesses and broadcast by Peruvian television channels showed the plane — an Airbus A320, according to aircraft tracking websites — taking off at full speed and hitting the fire truck, which was also traveling at high speed.

#LATAM#plane crash update. It seems that the tower of Lima Airport could not control the traffic on the runway. Fire truck and plane on runway. pic.twitter.com/FQOVo3mE6T

— Dore (@Sharkpatrol32) November 18, 2022

The plane continued on its course, dragging its right side down the runway, throwing up a trail of flame and smoke. The rear of the plane was badly burned.

Lima Airport Partners (LAP), which operates Jorge Chavez Airport, said it “deeply regrets the loss of life of two members of the LAP Aeronautical Fire Brigade in the accident that occurred between a fire engine and the aircraft carrying flight LA2213 from Lima to Juliaca.”

LAP added that its “teams are providing due care to all passengers, who are doing well.”

“We are also investigating to determine the cause of the incident,” he added.

Lima firefighters said the alarm went off at 3:25 pm local time (2025 GMT) and four ambulances and rescue units were deployed.

The prosecutor’s office said it would launch an investigation into the “possible crimes of wrongful death and culpable injury”. Airport operations have been suspended “until further notice,” the management company said.

Last month, a LATAM plane with 48 passengers on board made an emergency landing in Asuncion, Paraguay after flying through a severe storm.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NewsMadura staff and is being published from a syndicated feed.)