A private plane carrying missionaries from Austin (Texas, USA) suddenly crashed on the runway and broke in half while landing at the international airport in Honduras.
An ordinary business trip turns into an intense drama for six Americans flying from Austin, Texas, to Honduras.
A corporate jet they were traveling on Tuesday crashed off the runway, nearly splitting in two, as it landed at Toncontin International Airport near the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa.
All six people on board - four passengers and two crew members - survived. One of the passengers and a crew member were seriously injured.
"Thank God there are no reports of casualties, the injured are stable and receiving care," Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández said after the crash.
Heide Fulton, the top US diplomat in Honduras, said: “Thanks to first responders for their quick support. “We are following events closely. The embassy is providing all appropriate consular assistance”.
The crash happened around 11 a.m. local time, according to the Honduran Civil Aviation Authority. Airport operations were briefly disrupted but were fully restored later on Tuesday.
The four passengers were employees of Austin-based pawnbroker EZCORP, according to company spokesman Jeff Christensen.
“It was an ordinary business trip, but it turned out not to be,” says Christensen.
Christensen said three employees were discharged from the hospital on Tuesday with only minor injuries and bruising, while a fourth suffered more serious injuries. One crew member was also more seriously injured.
“We have high expectations” for the full recovery of all those on board and are “anxious to bring them home when they are ready,” Christensen said.
Tegucigalpa Airport has long been known as one of the hardest places to land because it is surrounded by mountain peaks and residential areas. The airport's runway is only about 2km long.
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