On Friday afternoon, a Boeing 737 crashed shortly after takeoff from Jose Marti International Airport in Havana, Cuba. of the 113 people on board, all but three have perished. Two days of national mourning are in the process of being observed, having started on Saturday. (Xinhua)
The flight was scheduled as domestic activity, a short flight between Holguin and Havana. Originally there were four survivors, but one succumbed quickly to their burns.
The three remaining survivors are all in critical condition. From ABC:
Cuban officials identified the women as Mailen Diaz, 19, of Holguin; Grettel Landrove, 23, of Havana; and Emiley Sanchez, 39, of Holguin.
Martinez said Sanchez was conscious and communicating, Diaz was conscious and sedated and Landrove was in a coma.
Among the deceased are five Cuban children; two Argentinians, and the six Mexican crew members. The reason the crew was Mexican is because the airplane was also Mexican, rented from Mexico City-based Damojh Airlines.
Prior complaints against the airline have come to light since the accident. From the Chicago Tribune:
The plane was barred from Guyanese airspace last year after authorities discovered that its crew had been allowing dangerous overloading of luggage on flights to Cuba, Guyanese Civil Aviation Director Capt. Egbert Field told The Associated Press on Saturday.
“We’ve discovered one flight recorder. It is in good condition. We hope to find the second flight recorder in a few hours.” (TASS)
