A plane carrying 137 people made a hard landing at a Miami airport before catching fire. The aircraft’s landing gear had broken, and the pilot was compelled to take evasive action.
According to authorities, the plane was a McDonnell Douglas MD-82. It had left the Dominican Republic on Monday from Santo Domingo. At 5.30 p.m., calamity struck as the airplane was entering Miami Airport.
It was forced to make a crash landing with 126 passengers and 11 staff members on board. Thick smoke began to billow from the left wing before the jet finally came to rest near a grassy area at the side of the runway.
Due to the power of the chaotic landing, a small building and a communications tower at the terminal were both struck. Screams from some passengers could be heard as they hurried to leave the still-burning airliner. The flames were put out by rushing firefighters using flame-retardant foam.
Following the incident, three persons were hospitalized.
The low-cost airline called Red Air was established just last year in Dominican Republic
According to a Miami Airport official, the collision caused flight delays.
The mayor of Miami-Dade County, Daniella Levine Cava, arrived at the scene this morning.
She tweeted: “A plane arriving at @iflyMIA from Santo Domingo, DR caught on fire following a landing gear malfunction. I have just arrived on the scene and am being briefed by @MiamiDadeFire. Three passengers were transported to the hospital with minor injuries.”
