What: Aires Boeing 737-700 en route from Bogota to San Andrés Island Colombia Where: Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International Airport on the Colombian island of San Andres When: August 15 2010, 2:15 a.m. Who: 131 aboard, 6 crew, 4 minors, 121 adult passengers Why: Prior to touchdown, the plane was struck by lightning (11 strikes recorded within 6 miles of the runway within a five-minute span of the crash)
According to Colombian media sources, Colombian aviation inspectors blame the pilot for not “adjusting” to flying in the high wind due to flying in too low an altitude.
The plane crashed and broke into three pieces. 115 were injured and one died; Maria Camila Angarita was a second casualty when she died in the hospital.
To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.
What: Aires Boeing 737-700 en route from Bogota to San Andrés Island Colombia Where: Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International Airport on the Colombian island of San Andres When: August 15 2010, 2:15 a.m. Who: 131 aboard, 6 crew, 4 minors, 121 adult passengers Why: Prior to touchdown, the plane was struck by lightning (11 strikes recorded within 6 miles of the runway within a five-minute span of the crash); the plane impacted 80 meters shy of the runway. The impact scattered pieces of the plane, and it broke at the midsection into three main parts. When help arrived, passengers were already strewn about the area. Praise Boeing for no actual fatalities.
The injured are being treated at “Amor de Patria Hospital” and “Villarreal Clinic” on San Andrés Island, with the most injured being ported to Bogata via air ambulance.
After the crash-landing, Mrs. Amar Fernández died of a heart attack en route to the hospital. She was 73. 66 were reported injured, five of them seriously, 35 hospitalized. Alejandro Colmenares Rua (18 months), Yiseth Rua Rojas (23), Catherine Rua Rojas (27), Jacqueline Rua Rojas(23), María Alejandra Ballesteros (21) and Andrés Cagua Calderón (33) were unhurt.
A room has also been opened for relatives at the Sheraton Hotel in Bogota. Aires published a release regretting what has happened. They are working with Aerocivil to serve the passengers and their families. They have provided a care line number: 018000-949490
Relatives of the occupants may contact the Hotel Habitel where they will receive all Aires information.
Flights at Gustavo Rojas Pinilla are suspended. Civil Aeronautics, the Navy, the Colombian Air Force, National Police, Red Cross, the company Aires and other institutions of the Regional Committee for Disaster Prevention and Response have responded.
To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.
KLM flight KL-701 suffered a lightning strike near Buenos Aires, Argentina, on February 11th.
The incident happened when the Boeing 777-300 plane flying from Amsterdam, Netherlands, was on approach to Ministro Pistarini International Airport in Buenos Aires.
The plane continued for a safe landing. Everyone aboard remained unhurt.
To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.
What: Air France Boeing 747-400 en route from Miami to Paris, France Where: Atlantic Ocean When: Oct 26th 2009 Who: Not Available Why: An hour after leaving Miami, the flight had technical trouble arising from a possible lightning strike. After spending nearly an hour trying to fix the issue, the flight turned back, landing back in Miami 2 and 3/4 hours after leaving. Passengers were provided transport on another Boeing 25 hours later.
To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.