Cuba plane crash kills over 100, 3 survive
Havana, May 19: More than 100 people were killed after a Cubana de Aviacion Boeing 737-200 crashed soon after takeoff from Havana's Jose Marti International Airport, a media report said on Saturday. Three female passengers are in critical condition after surviving the crash.
Flight DMJ 0972 heading from Cuba to Holguin was carrying 111 people, including 105 passengers and six crew members, when it plummeted at 12.08 p.m. on Friday in Santiago de Las Vegas, just miles from the runway, CCN reported.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who was at the scene of the accident, later offered his condolences to the victims' families. He said the cause of the crash was under investigation.
The Boeing was owned by the Mexican airline Aerolíneas Damojh and leased to Cubana de Aviacion, the Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement. The chartered flight "suffered a failure".
The plane appeared to swerve to one side and revved its engines before crashing, said an eyewitness. A large fireball followed by a plume of smoke was visible near the airport, added witnesses.
Search and rescue personnel descended on the area--with some residents helping--as firefighters tried to extinguish the flames.
Cuba announced two days of mourning, during which flags will fly at half-staff.
Boeing issued a statement of condolence and said, "A Boeing technical team stands ready to assist as permitted under US law and at the direction of the US National Transportation Safety Board and Cuban authorities."
In November 2010, a domestic passenger plane with 61 passengers and 7 crew members crashed in Cuba while travelling from Santiago de Cuba to Havana.
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Karnataka Deputy CM Shivakumar express shock over blast in Delhi
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday expressed shock and grief over the blast that occurred near Red Fort in Delhi that claimed at least eight lives and injured several people.
Taking to social media platform 'X', he wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
"Deeply shocked and disturbed by the tragic blast near Red Fort, Delhi. The loss of innocent lives is heartbreaking. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. Wishing a speedy recovery to the injured," Shivakumar said.
A high-intensity explosion ripped through a car near the Red Fort metro station, gutting several vehicles, officials said.
Twenty-four people were injured in the blast that took place on a busy evening when the area was milling with people. The injured were taken to the LNJP hospital, a few kilometres away.
