Plane crashes in Mexico, all 101 on board survive
A Mexican Embraer jet with 101 people onboard crashed while taking off from Durango yesterday amid a hail storm. Eighty-five people sustained injuries, but miraculously, everyone survived. Visuals showed smoke emanating from the crashed-but-intact plane and people being rushed away in ambulances. A reporter said some simply walked to a nearby hospital. While Aeromexico, the airline, expressed "deep regret," Embraer has sent a team.
Scenes from the crash site
Plane fell nose-first, pilot most seriously injured
The Embraer 190, flight number 2431, was headed to Mexico City when it crashed at 4pm local time. There're conflicting reports on whether it fell after take-off or ran off the runway close to the Guadalupe Victoria International Airport. There were 97 passengers and four crew members. All have been accounted for. The pilot was the most grievously injured as the plane fell "nose-first."
Preliminary reports blame bad weather, detailed probe to be conducted
It could take "months" to ascertain the exact cause of the crash, said Luis Gerardo Fonseca, Head, civil aviation agency, but according to preliminary reports, bad weather was responsible. The plane had made an emergency landing some six miles from the airport, said the civil protection agency. According to NY Post, the Brazilian-made aircraft was 10-years-old and was in service with two other airlines before joining Aeromexico.
Embraer, Aeromexico assure cooperation during investigation
The Embraer 190 has been known to be involved in only one fatal crash till date, when one of them operating under Henan Airlines overshot a runway in 2010 in China, Reuters reports. The company said it has sent a team of technicians to Durango and will assist in the investigation. Aeromexico said, "We're doing everything necessary to assist the families of our passengers and crew."
