A KLM Boeing 777-300ER landed at Schiphol this afternoon after a two-day delay. The aircraft was on its way to the Peruvian capital Lima on Friday evening when it suddenly turned to divert to Panama. The reason for the diversion was a fatal accident between a passenger plane and a fire engine at Lima airport. That airport then remained closed for two days.
On Friday evening (Peruvian time), an Airbus A320neo operated by Chilean airline LATAM collided at high speed with a fire engine on the runway of Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima. Two firefighters were killed in the accident. All occupants of the LATAM aircraft survived the accident.
Dozens of passengers were injured, and a third firefighter was hospitalized in critical condition. The Airbus, which crashed into the fire truck during take-off, was severely damaged.
Been on the road for ten hours
Immediately after the accident, Lima’s airport was closed. Flights that were still en route to the Peruvian capital had to divert to other airports. The KL743 had already been on its way from Schiphol for ten hours when the crew had to divert the flight above the border between Brazil and Colombia.
No place in Panama
Initially, the airport of Panama City was chosen, where the Boeing 777 also landed. The KLM aircraft has not been there for long. An hour and a half later, the plane took off again and flew on to San Jose in Costa Rica. There was no room in Panama City for the KLM aircraft and the passengers.
Because the plane wreckage had to be removed in Lima and the runway repaired, it took until Sunday before the KLM Boeing could still fly to Peru. According to a KLM spokesman, hotels in San Jose had been arranged for the crew and passengers.
Furious at KLM
An irate traveler has completely deflated on KLM’s Facebook page. The traveler writes that he was not allowed to leave the Costa Rican airport because of his Indian nationality and the lack of a visa. His wife and child, who both have Peruvian passports, were allowed to enter Costa Rica. The Indian says he does not understand this and is furious with KLM. Some other passengers complained about the airline’s lack of information.
47 hours delay
Ultimately, the aircraft that diverted on Friday evening and should have landed at Schiphol again on Saturday was back on Dutch soil this afternoon after a delay of almost 47 hours. A KLM return flight had to be canceled due to the closure of Lima Airport.