Guyana, July 31: A Caribbean Airlines plane has crashed at an airport in Guyana.
The Caribbean Airlines Boeing 737-800 has crashed upon landing at Cheddi Jagan International Airport in Timehri, Guyana, causing injuries but no deaths though it was broken in two parts.
The plane, carrying 157 passengers and six crew members, was destined for the capital Georgetown en route from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport when it overshot at the end of the runway at 1:32 a.m. local time on Saturday, the state-run BBC reported.
Rescuers worked to help the injured people out of the plane and more than 30 people were immediately transferred to the hospital for medical treatment.
“We must be the luckiest country and luckiest set of people in the world to escape so lightly,” said Guyana’s Health Minister Leslie Ramsammy.
According to Caribbean Airlines chairman George Nicholas, it was a miraculous escape.
“It’s an absolute miracle that took place today,” Nicholas pointed out.
Following the incident, Guyanese authorities closed the airport and launched an investigation.
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.
——Agencies