Caribbean Airlines Boeing 737-800 Crash


A plane carrying 163 people crashed and broke in two after landing in rainy conditions in Guyana's main airport, causing several injuries but no deaths. Caribbean Airlines Boeing 737-800 flight from New York carrying 157 passengers and six crew members Cheddi Jagen International Airport in Guyana's capital Georgetown.

Bharrat Jagdeo of Guyana President said the engineer, who had already made stops in Trinidad, crashed near the runway to stop only 61 meters into a ravine, which could have caused dozens of deaths.

Jagdeo said: "We are very grateful that many people were injured,''he told the authorities closed the airport, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded and dozens of flight delays.

Geeta Ramsingh, an American citizen who escaped with bruises on her knees, said passengers had just started to applaud touchdown zone lights "when it turned out to cry."

A woman from Guyana Kaieteur News Service quoted described hearing loud noises, when the plane landed and then everyone started screaming.

"It was terror," he said. "I prayed to Jesus."

Her husband opened the emergency door and the passengers began to flee, he added.

"Serious harm"

The accident took place in 0132 (0532 GMT) local time, according to a statement of Caribbean Airlines.

Guyana authorities initially struggled to remove passengers without lights in the field equipment and adequate emergency.

"About 100 people received medical care, with four hospitalized for serious injuries," said Maharaj front, the Minister of Transport of the Trinity, which is based Caribbean Airlines.

He said the company was sending a team to Guyana to help investigate the accident.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Enrico Woolford, a journalist from Guyana, said that "even if conditions are wet, the Meteorological Office in Guyana say the cause of the accident is not only due to weather."

Caribbean Airlines, based in Trinidad-based airline is the largest carrier in the region, operating at least five daily flights.

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