A minimum of three people were hospitalized after an aircraft caught fire in a crash-landing at Miami International Airport in Florida on June 21st. The Red Air flight from the Dominican Republic touched down at the airport at about 5:30 p.m. and tore through an interactions tower and a little structure prior to pulling up in a grassy location next to the runway, local outlet WSVN reported.
The airplane’s landing gear malfunctioned and broke off during the landing, authorities stated. The aircraft was carrying 126 guests and 11 team members at the time of the crash.
Parts of the smashed-up control tower could be seen on the airplane’s right-wing, which ignited, according to the outlet.
Plane catches fire after crash landing at Miami International Airport from DR. Sources state there were only minor injuries | #ONLYinDADE pic.twitter.com/AtL9vDYF74
— ONLY in DADE (@ONLYinDADE) June 21, 2022
“What happened here is a miracle,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who had landed at the airport on a separate flight.
“Apparently a tire burst, and then it went back up and came back down, and the landing was so hard, that the entire landing apparatus was destroyed and the belly of the plane is on the ground.”
One guest, Paola Garcia, informed the station, “I thought I was going to die.”
“All the windows were broken, and someone, like, broke his leg and arm. Horrible,” said Garcia. “The plane was like jumping and jumping and jumping,” said Garcia.
“I started running and I jumped, and I thought it was going to explode,” he added.
Another guest, Paolo Delgado, stated he saw the fire and the smoke prior to he stated he began to smell something.
“People were like, screaming all around. I don’t know, like panic,” said Delgado.
The scene after the crash was stressful. A video published on social networks revealed worried guests being ushered out of the aircraft and moving down the inflatable emergency chute.
Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue Tweeted, “#MDFR is on scene of an aircraft fire at @iflyMIA. Fire crews have placed the fire under control and are mitigating fuel spillage. All souls on board have been assessed for injuries. A total of 3 patients have been transported to local area hospitals.”
Passengers were then filled onto buses and required to security. The crash closed the runway into Friday night as authorities stayed continued to examine. Video was released by NBC6’s Ryan Nelson showing the tense egress from the flight.
#NEW: Video shared with @nbc6 by Red Air Flight 203 passenger as they escaped burning plane. Three people were injured.
Investigators say landing gear collapsed as plane landed at Miami International Airport. #Miami pic.twitter.com/LRHI3cGYdL
— Ryan Nelson (@RyanNelsonTV) June 22, 2022
The National Transit Safety Board stated it will be at the airport Wednesday early morning.
