Two pilots died when a private jet crashed in San Fernando on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. The plane failed to brake during landing and crashed into a residential building.
The disaster occurred on Wednesday early afternoon local time. A medium-sized Challenger 300 jet aircraft from Punta del Este, Uruguay, attempted to land at San Fernando International Airport but failed to brake, struck a nearby house and burst into flames.
– I looked out the window and saw that the plane had landed, it didn't stop and continued straight until it hit the fence. There was a ball of fire and an explosion – said a man running a shop in the area, quoted by TN.
The site of the jet crash on the outskirts of Buenos AiresSTR/PAP/EPA
Reuters published surveillance footage showing the moment of the explosion. In the foreground you can see two men at a van unloading containers. The plane crashes in the background, a large cloud of black smoke appears over the impact site.
The moment a private jet crashed on the outskirts of Buenos Aires Reuters
Maneuver before impact
There were only two pilots in the machine, and they died as a result of the crash. According to the Infobae portal, before the impact, the plane's pilots performed a maneuver to avoid houses with more inhabitants and avoid additional victims.
The plane was owned by the Brito family, which runs one of the largest commercial banks ArgentinaBanco Macro.
Main photo source: STR/PAP/EPA