Passenger Jet Crashes After Takeoff From Havana, Cuba

Update: May 19, 2018 at 9:10 a.m. ET

More than 100 people are feared dead following Friday’s passenger jet crash near Havana, Cuba, CNN reported, citing Cuba’s state-run media.

State-run newspaper Granma reported that three female passengers survived and are in critical condition following the crash, which occurred just miles from the runway at Jose Marti International Airport.

According to Granma, Vice Minister of Transportation Eduardo Rodriguez Davila said there were 105 passengers on board, including one infant. Of the 105, 100 were Cuban and five were foreigners. At least two passengers were Argentine.

Five crew members onboard were identified as Mexican nationals by the country’s Civil Aviation Authority, CNN reported.

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Original Text

A passenger jet crashed shortly after takeoff from Jose Marti International Airport outside Havana, Cuba on Friday.

Citing state-run television reports, CNN reported the Cubana Airlines flight was carrying 104 people and was en route to Holguin in eastern Cuba.

There are an unknown number of casualties at this time. However, at least three passengers reportedly survived and are in critical condition.

The domestic flight was being operated by a Boeing 737.

Video from the scene appears to shows smoke rising from the crash site.

https://twitter.com/murphy_paulp/status/997538931230076929?ref_src=twsrc^tfw” rel=”nofollow

Other images on social media showed emergency personnel responding to the scene, which was also visited by Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel.

https://twitter.com/cnnbrk/status/997547667961122821?ref_src=twsrc^tfw” rel=”nofollow

While the cause of the crash is not yet known, CNN reported that Cuba’s national carrier was forced to ground a number of planes in its aging fleet for safety issues in recent weeks.

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