A Boeing 737 skidded from a runway in the capital of Senegal, injuring 11 people. All operations were suspended while the crew helped evacuate the aircraft.
According to Senegal Transport Ministry El Malick Ndiaye, the Air Senegal flight operated through TransAir was scheduled to depart from Blaise Diagne Airport in Dakar on Wednesday night at midnight and fly to Bamako (Mali) when the plane “came off the runway during the take-off phase”.
The plane skidded onto the grass flanking the runway. The crew was able to deploy the side exit ramps to ferry passengers out of the plane, as it began to burn.
Cheick Siriman, a Malian singer, posted a Facebook post with the video of rescuers helping passengers to evacuate the plane. A bright orange glow can be seen under the jet.
Ndiaye reported that the plane carried 79 passengers and two pilots, as well as four cabin crew. The Independent reported that the airport has launched an investigation into the cause of this accident.
@dailymail BREAKING: Boeing 737 crashes during take-off in Senegal, 11 people injured Stay with us for updates. Emergency crews at the Blaise Diagne airport rushed to evacuate the passengers, eleven of whom were injured, four seriously so – though no deaths have been reported – as flights from the airport close to the capital city Dakar were suspended. It comes just one day after another Boeing aircraft – a 767 cargo plane operated by American postal service FedEx – crashed upon landing in Turkey after its landing gear failed. #boeing #boeing737 #airplane #breakingnews #airport #crash ♬ Breaking News Background Music (Basic A)(1001538) – LEOPARD
Boeing stated, “Carriers maintain and operate their aircraft for 30 to 40 years.” Boeing referred further questions to TransAir, but assured the firm “will provide support to our clients as requested.”
Plane Spotters reports that the plane was originally delivered to Romanian firm TAROM 30 years ago before TransAir leased this aircraft starting in 2018. The plane was previously grounded due to a problem with the tail during takeoff but was returned to service one month later.
Boeing has been heavily criticized by the media in recent months following several incidents, including an incident in which a door stopper on an Alaska Airlines plane blew off in mid-flight.
A FedEx jet had to land this week without its front landing gear. The pilots were able to keep the plane firmly on the runway in that instance.
FedEx told Reuters in a press release that it coordinated with the investigation, and “would provide additional information when it became available.”
Families of victims of Boeing-related incidents are demanding accountability. For example, Nadia Milleron’s daughter, who died in a Boeing crash in 2019, is arguing that the “executives” made the decisions and must be held personally responsible.
Boeing’s behavior will change if the executives are prosecuted. Nadia Milleron stated last month that people must take responsibility for their actions.
