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GUYANA-AIRLINER-CRASH,LEAD
Boeing jet crash-lands at Guyana airport, six injured: minister
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Nov 9, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – A Boeing jetliner carrying 126
people crash-landed at the airport in Guyana’s capital Georgetown on Friday,
injuring six people, the transport minister said.
The Fly Jamaica Airways plane was bound for Toronto when it suffered a
hydraulic problem shortly after takeoff and returned to the airport, crashing
and skidding off the runway, Transportation Minister David Patterson said.
He said the injuries were not life-threatening and the wounded were taken
to a hospital near the airport in this country bordering Venezuela to the
east.
“They are all stable and are being looked at. There were no reports of
broken bones,” Patterson told a news briefing at the airport.
The 118 passengers on board the Boeing 757-200 included 82 Canadians. There
were eight crew members aboard.
After departing at 2:10 am, the pilot reported a problem with the hydraulic
system 10 minutes into the flight.
Guyanese police and soldiers secured the crash site for investigators to
begin working. The US National Transportation Safety Board was alerted.
“We can confirm that Fly Jamaica flight OJ256 bound for Toronto has
returned to Georgetown with a technical problem and has suffered an accident
on landing,” the airline said.
“At this time, we believe that all 118 passengers and eight crew members
are safe. We are providing local assistance and will release further
information as soon as it is available,” it added.
BSS/AFP/SSS/1804 hrs