Passenger plane hits wild boars and careers off runway
A passenger plane careered off the runway after hitting a herd of wild boars during landing.
The SpiceJet plane was carrying 49 passengers and four crew when it hit the herd on the runway at Dumna airport in Jabalpur, India, at 7.25pm on Friday.
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The pilot was forced to apply emergency brakes when the boars ran onto the runway, and the plane skidded off the tarmac after colliding with the animals.
Unfortunately, some of the boars died in the incident, but all the passengers and crew were uninjured, reports the Sakshi Post.
Pictures of the scene have been shared on Twitter:
BREAKING NEWS: SpiceJet hits wild boar at Jabalpur airport all 49 passengers safe, 4 crew members evacuated. pic.twitter.com/5Welyky5yz
— India Today (@IndiaToday) December 4, 2015
SpiceJet also shared updates on its Twitter page:
SpiceJet Q-400, flight SG 2458,Mumbai to Jabalpur upon landing, hit a herd of wild boars that had strayed into the runway.<1/2>
— SpiceJet (@flyspicejet) December 4, 2015
Aircraft left the runway to the left. Damage to the aircraft is being assessed. All 49 passengers and 4 crew members are safe.<2/2>
— SpiceJet (@flyspicejet) December 4, 2015
According to stuff.co.nz, SpiceJet also said in a statement: "The skilful and experienced hands of captain Amartya Basu, who has more than 10,000 hours of flying experience, today helped to avert a major disaster by diverting the aircraft towards the left of the runway to moderate the impact of the event.
"Damage to the aircraft is still being assessed, however all the 49 passengers and 4 crew members are absolutely safe."
