LATAM Airlines Chile Airbus A320-271N plane crash
Lima, Peru
Updated on
The Airbus A320-200 operated by LATAM Airlines Chile, took off from Lima, Peru, for a passenger flight to Juliaca, Peru. 102 passengers and 6 crewmembers were onboard. The plane was accelerating for takeoff when multiple fire trucks crossed the runway in front of the aircraft. The crew rejected takeoff at high speed but couldn’t avoid collision with one of the fire trucks. The right main gear collapsed causing the aircraft to veer right towards the right-hand runway edge. A fire erupted on right hand engine at the moment of the collision. All occupants were able to evacuate the aircraft: 4 passengers received serious injuries, and 36 passengers received minor injuries. Two fire fighters on board of the truck were killed, and a third one received serious injuries.
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The Air Traffic Control reported that the rescue vehicle entered the runway without authorization and collided with the A320. It entered the active runway with flashing lights and sirens sounding, at around 1150 meters from the runway threshold. At that time the Airbus A320 was accelerating for takeoff. The right-hand engine of the A320 impacted the firetruck at a ground speed of around 127 kts. The right gear collapsed and a fire erupted. Then the plane slewed to a stop on the runway, about 1600 m past the point of impact.
