It is believed that more than 100 people lost their lives after a Cubana de Aviacion Boeing 737 – 200 crashed almost soon after takeoff from Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport. According to Cuba’s State run media, Flight DMJ 0972 had atleast 104 people onboard and while heading to eastern Cuban city of Holguin, it crashed in to an agricultural area in Santiago de las Vegas at 12 08 pm. Holguin is more than 700 km (about 435 miles) east of the Cuban capital. A radio broadcaster reported that there were 105 passengers, including 5 foreigners. There were around 6 crew members, whom were all Mexican nationals.
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Search and Rescue personnel soon reached the area and with able local help tried to extinguish the fire. The Cuban media Granma’s report include a photo from an airport tower with a black smoke rising seen far. Eye witness testimonies reveal that a large fireball was visible near the airport on the outskirts of Havana. No one on the ground was injured.
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto issued a statement via twitter. Boeing said that a technical team is standing ready to assist the hesitation as permitted under US law and at the direction of US National Transportation Safety Board and Cuban Authorities.
The cause of the crash is unknown as yet. The airline was nearly 30 years old and was owned by the Mexican airline Damojh and leased to Cubana de Aviation. Recently they had to ground some ageing fleet because of safety issues.
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