Passenger plane ‘takes off’ by itself as it is blown away by 100mph winds at Argentinian airport, smashing into staircase
- Storm was witnessed at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery airport in Buenos Aires
A passenger plane was blown away by 100mph winds at an Argentinian airport, smashing into a staircase.
The strong gusts hit the Aeroparque Jorge Newbery airport in Buenos Aires on Sunday as a severe storm gripped the region.
The Aerolineas Argentinas Boeing 737-700 was blown across the runway towards the staircase used by passengers to board before it crashed into it, causing it to topple to the floor as the aircraft turned to its side.
A staircase was then carried at speed towards the vehicles used by runway workers.
Footage showed a section of the plane’s wing that had struck a building on the runway.
The Aerolineas Argentinas Boeing 737-700 was blown across the runway towards the staircase used by passengers to board before it crashed into them, causing it to topple to the floor as the plane turned to its side
The 17-year-old plane registered LV-CAD sustained damage and its next scheduled flight to Mendoza Governor Francisco Gabrielli International Airport on Sunday morning was cancelled while it was grounded for repairs.
In a statement, Aerolineas Argentinas said: ‘Aerolíneas Argentinas reports that due to the strong storm that mainly affected the operation of Aeroparque, 100 flights have been canceled so far, and the same number have suffered delays and rescheduling.’
The company said they may continue ‘making modifications and/or cancellations during the rest of the day, as a result of the impact caused by the early morning weather situation, as well as the intermittent closures of the airports due to electrical activity’.
A severe electrical storm that struck Argentina over the weekend killed at least 16 people in the country and neighboring Uruguay.
Uruguay’s meteorological agency said two people were killed as strong wind gusts swept in from the southeast early on Sunday morning, according to a statement posted on the agency’s website.
The plane crashing into the staircase. Strong gusts hit the Aeroparque Jorge Newbery airport in Buenos Aires on Sunday as a severe storm gripped the region
A staircase was then carried at speed towards the vehicles used by runway workers. Footage showed a section of the plane’s wing that had struck a building on the runway
In Argentina, a woman died early on Sunday after being struck by a falling tree branch in the town of Moreno, according to local media.
Thirteen others died on Saturday in the town of Bahia Blanca after a wall collapsed during the storm.
Argentine President Javier Milei visited the accident site on Sunday.
The storm’s powerful winds also downed trees and lamp posts across the capital, Buenos Aires.
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