DHL Cargo Jet Skids Off Runway In Costa Rican Airport; Breaks Into Two Parts

San Jose: Ever heard of an aircraft breaking into two parts while landing ? In a shocking incident, a DHL cargo jet slid off the runway and split in half while landing at San Jose's international airport on April 7 and it has led to the airport being shut down temporarily.

The incident unraveled when the Boeing 757 had taken off from Juan Santamaría Airport just west of the capital but was forced to return after a failure was detected in the hydraulic system.

Héctor Chaves, director of the Costa Rica Fire Department, informed that the aircraft skidded, turned and broke in two parts upon landing, thereby exposing its cargo and losing its tail.

Chaves said that the units mobilized to remove the pilot and co-pilot and they then applied foam to avoid a spill and added that they are now working on an earthen dike so as to avoid any fuel from reaching the drainage system.

A spokesman of DHL said that both pilots managed to survive the accident unharmed but added that one of the pilot was undergoing a medical check as a precautionary measure.

DHL spokesman Daniel McGrath said that the German logistics giant was working with airport authorities to move the plane so that operations could resume. He went on to add that an investigation would be carried out to ascertain the cause of the incident.

Luis Miranda, deputy director of civil aviation for Costa Rica, said the plane had traveled only about 35 miles from the airport when it requested permission to turn back from its planned route to Guatemala City. He said the pilot and co-pilot were the only crew members on board the plane, which was carrying only about 2½ hours worth of fuel. 

The airport administration informed that the airport will be closed down to incoming and outgoing flights until at least 6 p.m as a result of this crash. Some flights would be diverted to Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia, about 125 miles northwest of San Jose.

Meanwhile, Airport operator Aeris said that 57 commercial and cargo flights to and from the United States, Central America, Mexico, Canada and Europe as well as 8,500 passengers were directly impacted by the crash.

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