11 people are now known to have been injured when a plane crash-landed while attempting to takeoff from Senegal’s Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD) in the early hours of Thursday.
Air Senegal flight HC301, operated by Transair, overshot the runway during takeoff, due to an acceleration problem, according to a statement from the Ministry of Infrastructure, Land and Air Transport (MITT).
The flight, en route to Bamako, Mali was carrying 85 people, including 79 passengers, 2 pilots and 4 cabin crew members.
The Senegalese authorities claimed the competent authorities had reacted quickly, mobilizing emergency services to evacuate those injured, including a pilot.
According to the statement, Malick Ndiaye, the Minister of Infrastructure and Land and Air Transport, went on the ground to supervise the management of the crisis during which he met the visibly shaken passengers.
An investigation by the Bureau of Investigation and Analysis (BEA) about what caused the near-fatal crash.
Operations at the AIBD were expected to resume later on Thursday, according to information provided by the ministry.
WN/as/APA