DHL cargo jet splits in two at Costa Rican airport.
A DHL cargo jet split in half after sliding off the runway as it made an emergency landing at San Jose’s international airport in Costa Rica.
The plane, which was traveling to Guatemala with a crew of two, had only travelled 35 miles from the Costa Rican airport when it requested permission to return.
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According to reports, the Boeing 757-200 had a failure in the hydraulic system.
Footage on social media shows the freighter slowing upon landing with its brakes smoking. It then skids 180 degrees before sliding off the runway.
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The plane’s right wing breaks off, before the aircraft breaks in half close to the tail.
“We can confirm that a DHL DE GUATEMALA, S. A. B757 sustained damage upon landing at Juan Santamaria airport in Costa Rica,” DHL said in a statement.
“We are pleased to report that the crew were physically unharmed in the incident. One crew member is undergoing medical checks as a precaution. We are coordinating with the airport authorities on moving the aircraft from the runway so that normal airport operations can be resumed as soon as possible.”
DHL and airport authorities said they were working together to move the aircraft, although they said it was not affecting operations.
