World witnessed Cuba’s worst air tragedy in almost 30 years when a Boeing 707 crashed shortly later taking off from Havana, more than 100 people lose their lives in this tragedy, and only three people luckily survived according to Cuban media on Friday. The passenger plane was crashed on a local flight to Holguin in Eastern Cuba at 12:08 p.m. (1608 GMT). According to the state media, total 105 passengers boarded the plane, plus five children and crew members.
Media Reports
As said by media reports, five of the travellers, plus crew members were overseas. Two Argentine residents and an unnamed total of Mexicans were among those who lost their lives, as reported by the Argentine and Mexican governments.
Statement by Cuban President
Miguel Diaz-Canel, president of Cuba said in a television broadcast that many people appeared to have been lost their lives. He stated that the fire from the disaster had been dowsed and identification of bodies is in process.
Official Mourning
May 19 from 6 a.m. to May 20, 12 p.m. there will be an authorized mourning period in Cuba, throughout which the state flag would be at half-pole outside state and all military institutes.
Statement by Ex-president
Ex Cuban president, Raul Castro, who now leads the country’s dominating Communist Party, presented his sympathies to the families of people who lost their lives in the plane crash. Raul Castro had a hernia operation, the media reported.
Locals about the crash
Gilberto Menendez, a restaurant owner near the plane disaster site in the cultivated surrounding of Boyeros said, “We witnessed a huge cloud of smoke after hearing the explosion”.
Reports from Hospital
Director of Calixto Garcia Hospital told Reuters News Agency that four victims of crash were brought to hospital and one victim died. He also said that three women were in a sensitive condition.
History of Aircraft
The airplane was made in year 1979 and rented by Cubana, a Cuban Airline from Damojh minor Mexican company. Mexican company Damosh stated the company didn’t instantly have any more news. On the other hand, Cubana refused to comment on the incident.
Authorities to Help
National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration offered to help in the investigation of plane crash. Boeing Company stated in a report that its technical staff stood “ready to help as allowed under United States law and at the order of Cuban establishments and US National Transportation.”
Deadly Disasters in Cuba
In 2017, last disastrous crash in Cuba appeared, reported by Aviation Safety Network. The crash happened to a military plane and total eight on board people died. Aero Caribbean, a commercial plane crashed in 2010 and took lives of all 68 passengers on plane. In 1989, worst disaster in Cubana history happened; Ilyushin-62M plane crashed and took life of all 126 people near Havana.
This disaster is indeed very shocking for the whole nation. We hope that soon the actual cause of the disaster will be announced after investigating the details of crash.
The post Cuba plane crash More than 100 souls departed in reports of explosion appeared first on Recorder Daily.