Update: More Than 100 Feared Dead In Havana Airplane Crash
Meg Butler May 18, 2018
Update 12:30 p.m. CST:
Over 100 passengers were on board the flight. There are at least three survivors, but that is all we know so far.
Update 2:00 p.m. CST:
The Mexican Ministry of Communications and Transportation has confirmed that the plane involved in the crash was a XA-UHZ, a 38 year old 737-200.
A Boeing 737 crashed shortly after takeoff at Jose Marti International Airport in Havana, Cuba earlier today.
Pictures from the scene show a large plume of black smoke that is visible from the terminal. Witnesses report seeing a large fireball when the plane made impact.
Firefighters are currently on the scene, attempting to get the fire under control. There is heavy police presence at the airport.
The plane reportedly belongs to Cubana de Aviación, Cuba’s national carrier, and was headed to the Cuban city of Holguin.
Casualties have been reported, an airport source told CNN. However, we don’t have any reports yet of how many people were onboard. However, a Boeing 737 can seat anywhere from 126 to 178 people.
Flights are still flying in and out of the airport.
#Breaking: Working to confirm but initial reports says #plane #crash site in #Boyeros neighborhood near José Marti International. @WPLGLocal10
— Hatzel Vela (@hatzelvela) May 18, 2018
CNN is incorrectly reporting that the crash was a Cubana 737.
Cubana doesn't have any 737s, though another airline may have been operating a 737 for Cubana,
— Jason Rabinowitz (@AirlineFlyer) May 18, 2018
Stay tuned for more updates as they come in.
To read more, go to CNN.
From avherald.com: A Global Aerolineas Damojh Blue Panorama Boeing 737-500 on behalf of Cubana de Aviacion, probably registration XA-UZK performing flight CU-972 from Havanna to Holguin (Cuba) with 104 people on board, lost height shortly after takeoff and burst into flames. Emergency services are responding, no further details known so far. Cuban Authorities confirmed an accident at Havana Airport, there is intense fire. A massive response by emergency services has been dispatched. Cuba's Ministry of Transport reported the aircraft belonged to Global Aerolineas Damojh based in Mexico. Cuban Media report a Blue Panorama Boeing 737 leased by Cubana de Aviacion crashed on takeoff. I-BPAC was seen operating flights CU-1976 and CU-1945 today and was in Havana at the time of the accident. According to ATDB Global Aerolineas Damojh operate three Boeing 737s: a Boeing 737-200 registration XA-UHZ, a Boeing 737-200 XA-UMQ and a Boeing 737-500 XA-UZK. Neither aircraft appeared in Mode-S transponder data throughout the day. According to Transponder1200 a Global Air Boeing 737-500 registration XA-UZK began operating for Cubana a few days ago.