On Friday, a LATAM Airlines aircraft crashed into a firetruck as it took off from Lima’s international airport caught fire.
The crew and passengers on the plane, according to the authorities, were all unharmed, but two firefighters in the truck perished.
Jorge Chávez International Airport‘s operations have been interrupted, according to Lima Airport Partners, the firm that runs the airport. On board, the Airbus A320neo were 102 passengers and 6 crew members.
“Our teams are providing the necessary care to all passengers, who are in good condition,” the company said.
According to the general commander of the fire service, Luis Ponce La Jara, two firefighters were killed and one was hurt when the plane hit the truck they were in. The firetruck and the plane were both moving when they collided.
In a tweet, President Pedro Castillo offered his sympathies to the firefighters’ families.
From the main airport in Lima, flight LA2213 was taking off for Juliaca, Peru.
Social media videos displayed smoke emanating from a sizable aircraft on the runway.
LATAM Airlines expressed its sorrow over the loss of the firefighters and promised to give affected passengers the freedom to reschedule their tickets at no additional cost. But it claimed to be unsure about the firetruck’s presence on the runway.
The incident was reported to the fire department at 3:25 pm, and four rescue units were activated.
The Jorge Chávez International Airport’s operations have been suspended until Saturday at 1 p.m. local time, according to aviation officials. In the meanwhile, flights would be direct to other airports.
