Havana: A Cuban state airways passenger plane with 104 passengers on board crashed shortly after taking off Friday from Havana’s Jose Marti airport, state media reported. The Boeing 737 operated by Cubana de Aviacion crashed “near the international airport,” state agency Prensa Latina reported. Airport sources said the jetliner was heading from the capital to the eastern city of Holguin.
Witnesses told AFP a thick column of smoke could be seen rising above the crash site. A large fireball and a plume of smoke was reportedly visible near the airport on the outskirts of the Cuban capital, said CNN.
The aircraft beloged to Cubana de Aviacion — Cuba’s national carrier — had earlier grounded some of its aging fleet owing to safety issues earlier. The cause of Friday’s crash remains unknown as of now.
Firefighters are trying to get the fire under control and a heavy police presence has arrived at the airport. The domestic flight was due to last around one hour and 20 minutes. Emergency services are rushing to the scene.
Cuban national television said the crashed airliner was flying from the Cuban capital to the city of Holguin, in the east of the island. Pictures showed thick smoke rising above the crash site, reported BBC. Fire crews and ambulances are at the scene Radio Havana Cuba said on Twitter that the plane came down on the “highway” between Boyeros and Havana, near the airport (Agencies)
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