San Jose: In a scene straight out of a Hollywood movie, a cargo plane skidded off the runway and broke into two as it tried to make an emergency landing in Costa Rica.
It forced temporary closure of the international airport in San Jose, affecting hundreds of flights and over 8,000 passengers, AFP reported.
The freak accident took place around 10.30 am local time. The Boeing-757 plane, which had taken off from Juan Santamaria international airport outside San Jose, was forced to return 25 minutes later for an emergency landing because of a mechanical failure.
The bright yellow plane of German logistics giant DHL ground to a halt, having slid off the runway when it spun and broke up around the rear wheels.
According to Costa Rica’s firefighters chief Hector Chaves, two crew members aboard were “in good health.”
The Guatemalan pair was sent to hospital for a precautionary medical check-up.
According to Guido Vasquez, a Red Cross worker, the pilot was shaken up by the freak accident but both crew members were conscious.
“They remember everything vividly,” AFP quoted Vasquez as saying.
