Aircraft makes landing in heavy rainstorm, runs into fire station

On Thursday, November 18, at 1720 UTC (1320 local), a BAE JetStream 31 turboprop slammed into the airport fire department building at Venezuela's Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia, Venezuela.

The aircraft, YV-1083C, was registered to RAVSA and was flying Flight 213 from "El Vigia" airport (SVMG) in the state of Merida, to Maiquetia (SVMI). As it was landing, it ran off the runway and crashed into the firefighter's personal vehicles and building.

Weather conditions had deteriorated throughout the day, beginning with light rain and low ceilings over the field, and increasing to a torrential rainstorm at midday. At the time the aircraft was carrying 19 pax and 2 crew. Two of the pax were declared dead at the scene. The other 17 passengers were evacuated with various injuries and one of them reportedly passed away after arriving at the hospital, according to the Rescate.Com summary.

Witnesses noted that at the time of the accident, the fire fighting personnel were eating lunch in the building's kitchen, some 45 feet from the point at which the JetStream impacted the structure. Under the command of Fire Fighter Col. Gregorio Merentes, they reacted extremely quickly and were able to rescue most of the passengers and crew from the aircraft.

RAVSA Flight 213 Manifest

Pilot: Cap. Julio Carias; First Officer: Cap. Rodolfo Garcia; Passengers: Arellano, Alexis; Cladera, Nakari De Los Angeles (Deceased); Fuenmayor, Elaine; Gonzalez, Jose; Lizano, Jesus; Maldonado, Alvio; Martinez, Gonzalo; Martinez, Gullermina; Maza, Luis; Miranda Evaristo; Mora, Rafael; Prieto, Daniel; Prieto, Marina (Deceased); Ramirez, Maria (Reported deceased after evacuation to hospital); Rendon, Agustin; Sanchez, Orlando; Sanchez, Tomas; Velazco, Luis; Venega, Flora.

(Images courtesy of Rescate.Com)

FMI: www.rescate.com