DHL Boeing 757 runway excursion in Costa Rica: what we know

On Thursday morning, April 7th, a Boeing 757 was involved in an accident when flight D0 7216 operated by DHL departed from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to Guatemala City (GUA), but had to return to the airport after reporting hydraulic problems.

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The aircraft is a Boeing 757-200F with registration HP-2010DAE, operated by the Panamanian subsidiary Aero Expreso (DHL).

According to local media, the pilots reported hydraulic problems at the time of the ascent. In the last hours, several videos and images circulated in social media, showing a hard landing and applying the brakes to the maximum.

At the end of the landing, the aircraft turned 180° and crashed into an embankment next to the runway, splitting the fuselage in two.

Emergency services immediately responded to the site of the aircraft to mitigate any initial fire outbreak. According to initial reports, both pilots are alive and uninjured, beyond the shock of the moment.

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Audio muy completo?#JOS0216 pic.twitter.com/tydB6oW7Og

— ADS-B Costa Rica (@adsbcr) April 7, 2022

In accordance with flightradar24.com, an aircraft tracking platform, the DHL Boeing 757 was in a holding pattern for more than 50 minutes over the coast of Costa Rica, possibly to burn fuel and free up extra weight for landing.

News in progress