Monday, August 16, 2010

Harrowing Crash on Colombian Runway



CNN reports:

One passenger was killed when an airplane crashed in bad weather and split into two when landing early Monday on the island of San Andres, Colombia, officials said.

The number of injured remained unclear Monday morning, but the national police said six of at least 127 people aboard the plane were not hurt.


The Colombian national police initially said the flight had 131 people -- 121 adult passengers, four minors and six crew members. A list the police later released, however, indicated 127 people on board -- 121 passengers and six crew members.

I'm linking to CNN here because the other early reports all gush on about how it was a "miracle," rather than a fluke, that so many people survived. Been there, done that. It wasn't a miracle for anyone who died, as I have had the occasion to point out previously.

[UPDATE: This, via e-mail from AccuWeather, based in State College, Pa: AccuWeather.com reports lightning is believed to be a factor in a Colombian plane crash that killed at least one person early Monday morning.

AccuWeather.com senior meteorologist Henry Margusity said it appears that the pilot was attempting to land during a severe thunderstorm.

AccuWeather.com meteorologists found evidence of multiple lightning strikes all around the island, including one strike that occurred at 1:42 a.m. local time, which Margusity said could be the strike that contributed to the crash.

Margusity said that the strike that occurred at 1:42 a.m. hit the eastern side of the runway.

Generally, planes are protected from lightning strikes, which is why Margusity believes other weather factors, including wind shear and poor visibility caused by rain could also be contributing factors in the crash."]

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