A LATAM Airlines plane crashed into a fire truck on the runway at Jorge Chavez Airport in Lima, Peru today as the plane was taking off.
Videos circulating online this afternoon from various witnesses show the scary incident from different angles as the plane was starting its trip to Juliaca, Peru.
Plane hit truck at 127 knots
The Airbus A320neo plane (flight LA2213) struck the truck along the plane’s right side, as the truck turned onto the runway.
Data from Flightradar24 showed the plane doing 127 knots at the moment of impact.
The impact caused gear collapse and extensive damage to the starboard engine and wing, causing fuel to leak as the plane skidded down the runway throwing sparks, which ignited the fuel into flames, before the plane vanished into smoke and came to a stop.
Passengers ok, truck crew fate unknown
Airport officials say all passengers are ok and were safely evacuated off the aircraft. It is unknown at this time whether those on the truck survived.
The airport was shut down and operations are suspended until Saturday afternoon as crews investigate and clean up the wreckage.
An investigation is underway to figure out why the accident happened.
