“Senegal Airport Incident: Plane Carrying 78 Passengers Skids Off Runway, 11 Injured”

In Short

• Plane skids off runway in Senegal’s main airport
• 11 injured, airport operations halted
• Incident occurred during early morning takeoff for Mali

A frightening incident unfolded at Senegal’s main airport as a plane carrying 78 passengers skidded off the runway before takeoff, resulting in injuries to 11 individuals and temporarily halting airport operations.

The Blaise Diagne airport swiftly launched an investigation to ascertain the cause of the accident, which occurred around 0100 GMT (6:30 am IST).

The aircraft involved in the incident was identified as a Transair-owned Boeing 737-300 BA.N, chartered by Air Senegal for a flight to Mali.

A nighttime video circulating on social media depicted the aircraft, adorned with the logo of Senegal-based airline Transair, positioned on grass with a wing covered in fire-suppressing foam.

While Reuters could not immediately verify the authenticity of the video, it provided a glimpse into the aftermath of the unsettling event.

In response to the incident, the airport promptly activated emergency protocols to ensure the safe evacuation of passengers from the affected aircraft.

As a precautionary measure, airport authorities announced the closure of the facility, indicating that operations would resume within the next few hours once the necessary assessments and safety checks were completed.

The occurrence of such an incident underscores the critical importance of stringent safety measures and protocols within the aviation industry, with investigations underway to determine the root cause of the mishap.

The safety and well-being of passengers and crew remain paramount, and authorities are committed to addressing any lapses or deficiencies to prevent similar occurrences in the future.