Plane crashes into Pacific lagoon; passengers swim for their lives
WELLINGTON: Passengers were forced to swim for their lives Friday when an airliner ditched into a lagoon after missing the runway on a remote Pacific island and immediately began sinking.
The Air Niugini Boeing 737 was attempting to land at Weno airport in Micronesia but ended up half submerged in Chuuk lagoon after the accident on Friday morning.
Pictures and video posted on social media showed locals scrambling in small boats to rescue the passengers and crew as waters covered most of the aircraft’s fuselage.
People are evacuated from an Air Niugini plane which crashed in the waters in Weno, Chuuk, Micronesia, September 28, 2018 in this picture obtained from social media. (Akang San/via REUTERS)
The airline said the plane, which was making a scheduled stop on its way from the Micronesian capital Pohnpei to Port Moresby, had “landed short of the runway”.
Remarkably, it said there were no serious injuries.
This picture taken by James Yaingeluo on September 28, 2018 shows locals approaching to rescue passengers of the crashed Air Niugini aircraft on the remote Island of Weno, in Micronesia. (AFP)
“Air Niugini can confirm that all on board were able to safely evacuate the aircraft,” the firm said in a brief statement.
“The airline is making all efforts to ensure the safety and immediate needs of our passengers and crew.”
It did not detail what caused the accident.
People are evacuated from an Air Niugini plane which crashed in the waters in Weno, Chuuk, Micronesia, September 28, 2018 in this still image taken from a video obtained from social media. (Akang San/via REUTERS)
Papua New Guinea’s Accident Investigation Commission said it was preparing to send investigators to the accident site.
“We’re trying to arrange a team to go there but I cannot give you any more information because I simply don’t have it,” a spokesman told AFP.
No casualties. 35 passengers of #AirNiugini flight to #FSM that crashed into the sea in Chuuk have been evacuated to safety and taken to hospital. The flight was landing. pic.twitter.com/5nTOQZpin8
— makereta komai (@burebasgal) September 28, 2018
"We came in low, we came in very low. Unfortunately, the flight attendants panicked, and started yelling, and I was trying to be calm and help as best as I could," said Bill Jaynes, passenger on flight of Air Niugini. https://t.co/GkKsmaDWjY pic.twitter.com/g1m6J6UbU2
— Guam PDN (@GuamPDN) September 28, 2018
Pacific Daily News reported, citing airport official Jimmy Emilio, that all 36 passengers and 11 crew had been taken to hospital for check-ups.
Air Niugini is Papua New Guinea’s national airline.
Courtesy: gulfnews.com
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Gold declines Rs 1,100 to Rs 1.64 lakh/10g; silver slips to Rs 2.71 lakh/kg
New Delhi (PTI): Gold prices declined Rs 1,100 to Rs 1.64 lakh per 10 grams in the national capital on Friday as traders booked profits at elevated levels for the second straight session, while silver also slipped to Rs 2.71 lakh per kilogram.
According to the All India Sarafa Association, the yellow metal of 99.9 per cent purity depreciated Rs 1,100, or nearly 1 per cent, to Rs 1,64,100 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes).
Silver also fell Rs 600 to Rs 2,71,700 per kg (inclusive of all taxes) in the bullion market.
Analysts said traders locked in gains after the recent sharp rally in precious metal prices, even as global trends remained mixed.
"After opening with a gap up earlier in the week, both gold and silver gradually declined this week as a stronger US dollar and rising Treasury yields, along with reduced expectations for interest rate cuts by Federal Reserve, outweighed safe-haven demand stemming from the escalating Middle East conflict," Saumil Gandhi, Senior Analyst - Commodities at HDFC Securities, said.
He added that investors continued to exit gold-backed exchange traded funds (ETFs) this week, indicating softer investment demand.
"ETFs reduced their gold holdings by 93,479 troy ounces in the latest session, marking the fourth consecutive day of outflows -- the longest losing streak since February 6," Gandhi said.
However, in the international markets, bullion prices were trading higher on renewed safe-haven demand, with spot gold gaining USD 14.70, or 0.29 per cent, to USD 5,095.81 per ounce, while silver increasing 1.4 per cent to USD 83.40 per ounce.
Traders said escalating tensions in the Middle East continued to support precious metals, though profit-booking limited gains in the domestic markets.
"Gold and silver prices experienced notable fluctuations on Friday, driven primarily by ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and robust safe-haven buying," Gaurav Garg, Research Analyst at Lemonn Markets Desk, said.
These precious metals are gaining traction as investors seek refuge amid market volatility and rising crude oil prices, which surged to over USD 80 per barrel following the closure of Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route, raising concerns about supply disruptions.
"The US stock market reacted negatively, with major indices like the Dow Jones and S&P 500 witnessing significant declines, further fuelling interest in gold and silver," Garg added.
Jateen Trivedi, VP Research Analyst, Commodity and Currency, LKP Securities, said investors are closely monitoring crucial macroeconomic indicators, including the unemployment rate and non-farm payrolls numbers scheduled to be released later in the day.
