A passenger plane crashed in Cuba: about a hundred passengers were on board, there are survivors. More than a hundred people died in Cuba in a plane crash Plane crashed today in Cuba

In Cuba, find out the causes of the crash "Boeing-737" The night before, he collapsed almost immediately after takeoff from Havana airport. At this moment, it is known that there were 110 people on board, only three women managed to survive, but they are in extremely serious condition. According to the latest data, there are no Russians among the victims of the plane crash.

These shots were taken in the first seconds after the tragedy. Visitors and staff at José Martí Airport look in horror at the flames and giant plume of smoke rising just a few kilometers from the runway.

“We were checking in when we heard the sound of an explosion. At that moment, the lights went out in the hall, we looked out into the street and saw clouds of black smoke. Then we were told that it was a plane crash,” said Brian Oranbueno.

The crashed Boeing 737, built 39 years ago, was operated by the Cuban national carrier Cubana de Aviación, which had leased the aircraft from the Mexican airline Global Air. At noon local time, the liner took off from the capital's José Marti Airport to the city of Holguin in the east of the country. Minutes later, it became known that the Boeing had crashed in the countryside near the Havana suburb of Santiago de Las Vegas.

Eyewitnesses said that immediately after takeoff, the liner turned towards the airport and seemed to be landing, but crashed into a power line pylon. None of the residential buildings were damaged.

“He flew low, as if he could not gain altitude. Then he began to turn back. And at that moment, the wing touched the wires and immediately collapsed to the ground, ”said the eyewitness.

According to the latest data, there were 104 passengers on board, including five children, and a crew of six people. Only four managed to survive. However, later one of them, a man, died in the hospital. Three more women - with burns and fractures - remain in critical condition.

"We are doing everything possible. Now it is difficult to say something more specific - the injuries of the victims are very serious," said the head physician of the hospital, Carlos Alberto Martinez Blanco.

A few hours after the disaster, it turned out that among the dead were two citizens of Argentina. Before that, it was reported that only Mexicans were foreigners - the crew of the ship.

Our embassy in Havana reported that the Russians did not fly on this flight.

“Immediately after receiving information about the crash, Russian diplomats left for the José Marti airport in Havana. According to the latest information received from the official Cuban authorities, there were no Russian citizens on board the plane,” Nadezhda Sergieva, spokeswoman for the Russian Consulate General in Cuba, said.

Search operations in the area of ​​the fall of the Boeing, despite the onset of darkness, do not stop. Teams of doctors and rescuers, who, according to eyewitnesses, arrived at the scene just 12 minutes after the tragedy, continue to search for the remains of the victims of the disaster and collect the wreckage of the liner. At the airport itself, psychologists provide assistance to the relatives of the dead, who suddenly lost their loved ones.

At this point, the most likely cause of the accident is a technical malfunction. The Cuban authorities have not yet been able to report anything more specific - the "black boxes" have not yet been found.

“On behalf of the government and the party, I express my deep condolences to the families and friends of those who died in this terrible disaster. We do whatever is necessary in such situations. Doctors have begun to identify the remains of the dead, an investigation into the causes of the incident has begun. As soon as we manage to find out something, we will inform about it,” said the President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez.

In connection with the tragedy in Cuba, two days of mourning have been declared. My condolences to the government and Cuban people expressed by the leaders of dozens of countries. President Vladimir Putin sent a telegram with words of sympathy and support to the families and friends of the victims and wishes for a speedy recovery to those who survived the disaster.

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This concludes Gazeta.Ru online, but, of course, continues to follow developments in Havana. Stay with us!

Russian President Vladimir Putin has already expressed his condolences in connection with the plane crash in Havana. He sent a telegram to the Chairman of the State Council and the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, the Kremlin press service reported. “The head of the Russian state conveyed words of sympathy and support to the families and friends of the victims, as well as wishes for a speedy recovery to those who managed to survive this disaster,” the telegram says. Survive, recall, managed two.

The Boeing 737 is the most massive passenger aircraft in the history of the passenger aircraft industry. In March of this year, the ten thousandth aircraft of this manufacturer was put into operation. The model has been produced since 1967. On average, there are an average of 1,200 aircraft in the air at any given time, and one Boeing-737 takes off and lands every five seconds around the world.

According to updated data, the plane crashed into agricultural fields between the José Marti airport and the Havana suburb of Santiago de Las Vegas.

One of the survivors of the crash of a passenger Boeing in Cuba died of burns in a hospital in Havana, Reuters reports citing a hospital spokesman. Two other survivors are in critical condition.

The city of Holguin, where the plane was heading, is located near the famous beach resorts, the largest of which is Guardalavaca. Holguin is the fourth largest city in Cuba. The toponym has nothing to do with the popular Russian name: the city and the province are named after the discoverer of this part of the island, the Spanish captain Garcia Olgin.

The aircraft was leased by Cubana de Aviacion to Global, Cuban newspaper Granma writes. In total, there were 105 people on board, including passengers and crew. There were six children among the passengers, two of them under the age of two.

The Boeing 737 that crashed in Cuba has been in service for 26 years. He has flown thousands of miles over the years. Information about the technical condition of the aircraft in recent years and directly on the day of the crash on this moment no.

Eyewitnesses of the crash of the liner share the details of the incident. “A second and we saw a large fireball, and then clouds of smoke, diverging tens of meters above the crashed plane. The plane crashed so close to the airport that everything was visible from the windows,” said a local resident.

A preliminary version of the crash of a passenger Boeing-737 in Cuba is considered a technical malfunction, according to local media.

Three survivors of the plane crash were hospitalized in critical condition. It is reported by AFP, citing state media.

The Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) called it unlikely that there could be Russians on board the plane that crashed in Cuba.

“Large tour operators do not carry tourists from Havana to Holguin, although there are niche companies. The likelihood that there could be Russians on board the plane is very small, ”a representative of the association told Interfax.

Sergei Orlov, Vladimir Smirnov

Boeing 737-200 passenger aircraft of the Cuban airline Cubana de Aviacion, performing domestic flight from Havana to the province of Holguin, crashed on takeoff. More than 100 people were on board the aircraft. It is reported that the airliner was leased from the Mexican airline Damojh and was flown by a foreign crew. The President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel, arrived at the crash site and announced large numbers victims of the tragedy. At the same time, there is no official information on the number of dead and wounded.

  • Adalberto ROQUE

On Friday, May 18, at the airport of Havana, a Boeing 737 of the Cuban airline Cubana de Aviacion crashed during takeoff. The plane crashed a few minutes after taking off from international airport Havana named after José Marti. Cuban authorities have already confirmed the crash.

“At 12:08, a Boeing 737-200 leased by Cubana de Aviacion, with a foreign crew and 104 passengers on board, flying from Havana to Holguin on flight DMJ 0972, fell to the ground at the time of takeoff,” the official press organ of the Central Committee reported. Communist Party of Cuba - Granma newspaper.

It is noted that the plane crashed between the José Marti airport and locality Santiago de las vegas. Emergency services are at the scene.

The Cubanet portal clarifies that the crashed plane belonged to the Mexican airline Damojh.

Official data on the number of victims of the disaster is not yet available. Media reported that more than a hundred people were on board the aircraft. So, according to the Infobae website, there were 104 people on board the crashed Cuban Boeing. The Cibercuba publication, citing Cuban Radio Rebelde journalist Gabriel Silva, writes that there were 107 people on board, not counting crew members, RIA Novosti notes.

Prior to official confirmation that the destination of the Boeing 737 was an airport in the Cuban province of Holguin in the east of the island, there was information that the aircraft was performing international flight. At the same time, CNN reported that Boeing could be heading to Guyana.

The President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel, arrived at the crash site. Even before arriving at the scene, the head of Cuba announced a “large number” of victims of the disaster at the Havana airport.

“There has been an unfortunate accident. The news is not encouraging, probably the number of victims is high, ”diaz-Canel was quoted by AFP.

At the same time, eyewitnesses of the Boeing 737 crash said about the survivors who were transported in ambulances, reports The Associated Press.

It is not yet known whether there are foreigners among the dead. This information is clarified by the emergency services of the Republic of Cuba, as well as consular departments. So, the secretary of the Russian embassy in Cuba, Nadezhda Sergieva, said that the diplomatic mission is in constant contact with the country's authorities to find out if the Russians were on board the crashed airliner.

“There are no details yet. Diplomats are in constant contact with the Cuban competent authorities, find out the circumstances of the incident - whether there were Russian citizens on board, ”RIA Novosti quotes her as saying.

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent condolences to the Cuban leader in connection with the plane crash at the Havana airport. This was reported by the press service of the Kremlin.

“The head of the Russian state conveyed words of sympathy and support to the families and friends of the victims, as well as wishes for a speedy recovery to those who managed to survive in this disaster,” the message says.

Cuban authorities clarified that the incident did not lead to disruption of the Havana José Marti Airport. According to the head of the Corporation civil aviation Cuba Roberto Peña Samper, the airport continues to operate.

In turn, representatives Boeing reported that they are monitoring the situation in connection with the plane crash in Cuba.

On May 18, 2018, a tragic plane crash occurred during a Boeing 737 passenger liner belonging to the Cubana de Aviacion carrier on a flight from Havana to Holguin. The plane crashed just a few kilometers from where it took off, killing more than a hundred people.

Chronicle of the crash Boeing 737 "Cubana de Aviacion" in Cuba

As follows from the officially presented data, the passenger liner of the Cuban airline "Cubana de Aviacion" was flying from Havana to Holguin ( East Coast Cuba - approx. ed.), however, just a few seconds after takeoff, the plane began to sharply lose altitude, as a result of which it hit the ground and exploded.

In fact, the plane crashed near the capital airport of Cuba, which is clearly visible on the video footage presented, however, witnesses claim that there were no visual problems (smoke, flames, etc.) with the aircraft.

Due to the fact that the crash site is relatively close to the airport, the fire brigade, rescuers and medical care arrived at the crash site relatively quickly, but even despite this fact, no one managed to survive the tragedy, although the Cuban authorities did not confirm this fact for a long time.

Preliminary versions and causes of the plane crash in Cuba on May 18, 2018

Specialists involved in the investigation of the crash that occurred, identified mainly three main versions of the tragedy that happened, which, however, can be confirmed or denied only after a thorough investigation.

Engine failure

The version about the failure of the Cubana de Aviacion Boeing 737 passenger airliner of the power unit appeared almost immediately after the tragedy, however, given that the aircraft was not overloaded and could well fly with one functioning engine, it is logical to assume that either the version is not true, or the tragedy could have been preceded by concomitant factors, for example, the failure of the second engine.

“If a passenger airliner could not gain the necessary speed, then in the event of an engine failure, it will actually quickly lose it and begin to fall”, says the expert.

On the other hand, according to preliminary data, the dispatcher of the capital's Cuban airport claims that the crew did not report technical problems on board.

Crew error

The version of crew error is almost always considered in the investigation of air crashes, and the current tragedy was no exception. It is reported that the aircraft was operated by a foreign crew, which, quite likely, could become one of the circumstances of the tragedy, but only under certain conditions.

Given the testimony of witnesses that the plane began to fall sharply, it is logical to assume that the actions of the pilots could contribute to this

Poor quality fuel

One of the versions of the crash involving the Boeing 737 airliner in Cuba was also named the version of low-quality fuel in the aircraft's tanks. No fundamental factors indicating precisely this circumstance were presented, however, experts did not rule out that this version may also need to be carefully studied.

Injured and victims of the plane crash in Cuba

Official data on exactly how many passengers and crew members were on board the Boeing 737 passenger airliner that crashed on May 18, 2018. According to some reports, we are talking about 104 citizens, according to others about 107 (including crew members), however, there is information about that the plane could carry up to 113 people on its board.

As a result of the plane crash from a great height and the subsequent explosion, only four citizens managed to survive, two of whom subsequently died in the majority from their wounds and injuries.

Declared official mourning in the country for the next two days due to a plane crash that occurred on the afternoon of May 18 in Havana. On Friday around noon, a Boeing 737-200 crashed shortly after taking off from Jose Marti International Airport. There were 104 passengers and six crew members on board. According to the flight engineer, a technical failure could have been the cause of the crash.

The State Council of Cuba declared official mourning in the country for the next two days because of the plane crash that occurred on the afternoon of May 18 in Havana. On Friday around noon, a Boeing 737-200 crashed shortly after takeoff from José Marti International Airport, FAN reports.

There were 104 passengers and six crew members on board the aircraft (110 people in total). Flight DMJ 0972 was heading from Havana to the province of Holguin, Cuba Debate reports.

According to Cuban media, the aircraft was leased by Cubana de Aviación from the Mexican airline Damojh and was piloted by a foreign crew. It is known that one of the women who survived the crash died in the hospital. The other two victims are in critical condition in the intensive care unit.

According to witnesses, the plane before the crash turned around to return to the airport and crashed into power lines.

As noted, the first rescuers arrived at the scene 12 minutes after the fall. The first footage from the crash site of a passenger airliner has appeared on the Web. The video captures the first footage after the disaster. The footage shows a plume of black smoke rising from the crash site near the runway at Havana Airport.

There were no Russian citizens on board the plane that crashed near Havana, NSN reports with reference to the Russian Embassy in Cuba. Two Argentine citizens are known to be among the dead.

“The Ministry regrets to announce that two Argentine citizens died today in Havana in a commercial plane crash. passenger aircraft that crashed on takeoff from the airport," the country's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The flight engineer who served the flight, which took off a few minutes earlier than the plane that crashed on Friday near Havana, believes that a technical failure could be the cause of the crash, RIA Novosti reports.

“Today (Friday), around 11 am, we, members of two crews, met in the back office of the terminal (Havana airport) for lunch and a few words before the flight.

We will not meet again like this - apparently due to a technical failure that occurred in aircraft", - said the specialist.

“I know that you must be in a lot of pain. Imagine the pain I feel as a flight engineer with 17 years of experience, colleague and friend of the crew of the (crashed) Boeing 737-200. 13 minutes before its fall, our crew, operating another domestic flight of Cubana Airlines, flew to the province of Santiago de Cuba. We communicated with them by radio, taxiing to the runway ... ”, the flight engineer explained.