Cargo plane splits in two emergency landing in Costa Rica

During an emergency landing in Costa Rica on Thursday, a cargo jet carrying mail and goods went off the runway and split in half, forcing the international airport in San Jose to close temporarily.
The bright yellow jet of German logistics company DHL was blowing smoke as it came to a rest after sliding off the runway and breaking up around the rear wheels.

Hector Chaves, Costa Rica’s firemen chief, said two crew members aboard were “in good health.”

Nonetheless, according to Guido Vasquez, a Red Cross volunteer, the Guatemalan couple was sent to the hospital as a precaution “for a medical check-up.”

Although the pilot was disturbed, both crew members were awake and “remember everything well,” according to Vasquez.

The jet, which had taken off from the Juan Santamaria international airport west of San Jose, was forced to return 25 minutes later for an emergency landing owing to a technical issue just before 10:30 a.m. (1630 GMT).