A Boeing 757 carrying 118 people operated by Fly Jamaica was forced to turn around inflight due to a mechanical problem. The aircraft made what is being described as a crash landing at a Guyana airport. The aircraft was headed to Toronto and news reports say at least six passengers were injured.
It has been in the air just short of an hour when it requested to turn around and went to The Cheddi Airport in Georgetown, Guyana.
The aircraft overran the airstrip, went through an airport fence and came to a stop just before a ditch. The slides were deployed and passengers exited using the slides.
“We can confirm that flight OJ256 bound for Toronto has returned to Georgetown with a technical problem and has suffered an accident on landing. At this time, we believe that all 118 passengers and 8 crew members are safe. We are providing local assistance and will release further information as soon as it is available,” said an airline statement.
During the landing the aircraft was badly damaged with one jet engine being completely torn off. Some reports are saying a hydraulics problem was reported.