An Air Niugini flight approaching an airport in Micronesia landed around 150 yards short of the runway and crashed into a lagoon just off the coast.
According to ABCNews.com, the Air Niugini Boeing 737 was coming in for a landing at Chuuk International Airport when the plane touched down in the water, leaving several passengers injured, but no deaths were reported.
A passenger on the plane was interviewed following the crash:
“I looked over and saw a hole in the side of the plane and water was coming in”: Plane passenger describes moment Boeing 737 landed in ocean off coast of Micronesia after missing runway on arrival.
No serious injuries were reported. https://t.co/xqzgl22WTT pic.twitter.com/qJUdMV6lKm
— ABC News (@ABC) September 28, 2018
“Air Niugini can confirm that all on board were able to safely evacuate the aircraft,” a spokesperson for the national airline of Papua New Guinea told ABC News. “The airline is making all efforts to ensure the safety and immediate needs of our passengers and crew. Further information will be provided as it becomes available.”
Images of the plane sitting in the water off the coast of Chuuk Island were shared on Twitter:
#CroozefmNews
A passenger aircraft has come down in a lagoon off Chuuk International Airport in Micronesia after it missed the runway, airport officials say. The Air Niugini plane from Papua New Guinea was seen sitting in shallow water just off the coast. pic.twitter.com/1RnqNTugje— 91.2 Crooze Fm (@912CroozeFM) September 28, 2018
PLANE CRASH / WATER LANDING
Air Niugini #PX73 ended up in the water near Chuuk International Airport, Micronesia. All passengers and crew reported safe. Initial reports indicate the flight was arriving and landed in the water.Guam Daily Post pic.twitter.com/H82JeslYxz
— Tom Podolec Aviation (@TomPodolec) September 28, 2018
Aviation authorities said the crash will be formally investigated and the flight from Pohnpei to Chuuk was carrying 35 passengers and 12 crew members at the time of the incident.
