Passengers on a flight from the Dominican Republic got quite the scare after a plane caught fire in a crash-landing at Miami International Airport, leaving three people in the hospital recovering with minor injuries.
Red Air Flight 203 was traveling from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic with 126 passengers and 11 crew members. The plane’s landing gear in the nose of the plane reportedly collapsed during landing, causing the plane to skid down the runway on its belly.
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The plane ripped through a communications tower and small building before landing in a grassy area of the runway, the NY Post reports.
#MDFR is on scene of an aircraft fire at @iflyMIA. Fire crews have placed the fire under control and are mitigating fuel spillage. All souls on board have been assessed for injuries. A total of 3 patients have been transported to local area hospitals. pic.twitter.com/hMP68ncJ4s
— Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (@MiamiDadeFire) June 21, 2022
“I thought I was going to die,” said Passenger Paolo Garcia. “All the windows were broken, and someone, like, broke his leg and arm. Horrible. The plane was like jumping and jumping and jumping.”
Red Air #203 from Santo Domingo had its landing gear in the nose of the plane collapse, which seems to have caused a fire. @MiamiDadeFire responded & extinguished the fire. Some flights have been delayed as a result. Please follow up with your airline for the latest flight info. pic.twitter.com/06Vs8WuqIB
— Miami Int’l Airport (@iflymia) June 21, 2022
Passengers were bussed from the plane and taken to the terminal safely where they were reunited with loved ones.
The Federal Aviation Administration and The National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash and fire.