Passengers escape death as AeroMexico plane crashes in Durango, Mexico

Rob Crilly
Updated

Dozens of  people were injured on Tuesday when an AeroMexico plane with 101 people on board crashed just after takeoff in Mexico's state of Durango, but authorities said nobody died in the accident.

Video footage showed emergency crews on the scene as smoke poured from the largely intact Embraer E190.

Jose Rosas Aispuro, Durango state governor, said on Twitter: "It is confirmed that there were no deaths in the flight crash AM2431."

He said the plane was hit by a gust of wind, causing it to lose speed. Its leg wing hit the ground, he said, but the aircraft skidded to halt in a horizontal position, enabling passengers to escape. 

Some 99 passengers and four crew members were aboard, according to the Mexican transport minister, of which 49 had to be taken to hospital.

Rescue workers and firefighters reach the site of the crash - Credit: Civil Defence Office of Durango via AP
Rescue workers and firefighters reach the site of the crash Credit: Civil Defence Office of Durango via AP

Jackeline Flores, a passenger, told reporters the plane came down in heavy rain. She and her daughter escaped from a hole in the fuselage as the aircraft filled up with smoke and flames, she said.

"A little girl who left the plane was crying because her legs were burned," she said.

Ms Flores said her passport and documents burned in the fire.

"I feel blessed and grateful to God," she added.

Israel Solano Mejia, director of the city's civil defence agency, told Foro TV that the plane "made it off the ground, but fell nose-first" just a few hundred yards from the end of the runway.

"The nose took the hit. The most seriously injured is the pilot,"he said. However, he added, "the majority of passengers left (the plane) under their own power". 

Video footage showed a plume of black smoke rising into the air as emergency services raced to the scene.

Rescue workers carry a survivor away from the wreckage - Credit: Red Cross Durango via AP
Rescue workers carry a survivor away from the wreckage Credit: Red Cross Durango via AP

Local media said witnesses described seeing survivors walk away from the wreckage. 

An internet site on the aviation industry says the Embraer 190 airliner that crashed Tuesday in northern Mexico was about a decade old.

AeroMexico said it was trying to find out more information about flight AM2431 - Credit: @Enel_Aire/Twitter
AeroMexico said it was trying to find out more information about flight AM2431 Credit: @Enel_Aire/Twitter

The web site Planespotters.net says the Brazilian-made medium-range jet had seen service with two other airlines before joining the Aeromexico fleet.