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A DHL cargo jet slid off the runway and broke in half while landing at San Jose's international airport, shutting down the airport, but not injuring crew.
According to Huffington Post, the fire department said the Boeing 757 had taken off from Juan Santamria Airport just west of the capital, but decided to return after detecting a failure in the hydraulic system. Hector Chaves director the Costa Rica Fore Department said that upon landing the aircraft skidded, turned and broke in two, exposing it's cargo.
Both pilots were unharmed but one was undergoing a medical check as a precaution.The company was working on with airport authorities to move the plane so flights could resume. An investigation is to be conducted to determine the exact cause of the incident.
"Units mobilized to remove the pilot and co-pilot. Then they applied foam to prevent a spill and now they are working on an eathen dike to avoid any fuel from reaching the drainage system." said Chaves
Luis Miranda, deputy direcot of civil aviation for Cota Rica, said the plane had gone only about 35 miles from the airport when it requested permission to turn back from its planned flight to Guatemala City. He said the pilot and co-pilot were the only crew members aboard the plane, which was carrying a little of 2 hours worth of fuel.
The airport administration said the crash would keep the airport closed to incoming and outgoing flights until at least 6p.m. Some flights would be diverted to Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia.