5 dead, 65 injured in plane crash in Honduras

Tegucigalpa (Honduras), May 31 : At least five people died and 65 injured when a jet owned by Central America's TACA airlines slipped across a runway and onto a road while landing at the Tegucigalpa airport.

Airbus A-320 was carrying 124 passengers with crew and was flying on

Los Angeles-San Salvador-Tegucigalpa route, officials said.he plane skidded off the runway, crashed down a 20-metre embankment, moved fastly across a road and broke into three pieces, TACA officials said.

TACA manager Armando Funes was not able to give detailed information about the victims but informed local media that "the plane was completely destroyed" and that "the passengers were being taken to hospitals for evaluation."

Among the dead was Nicaraguan Harry Brautigam, the president of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, according to Honduran President Manuel Zelaya.

At least 65 people were admitted to hospitals, including Brazil's ambassador to Tegucigalpa, Brian Michael Fraser Neele.

Many had inhaled smoke which emanated from fire during the crash, rescue personnel said.

Honduras Industry and Commerce Minister Norman Garcia said poor visibility may have caused the crash.

"It was a difficult landing due to the clouds at Toncontin (airport). The cloud ceiling was very low and the pilot attempted to land on the first try but had to take flight again," said Garcia.

ANI