Plane goes off runway in Durban

2008-06-18 12:30

Durban - Durban International Airport has been closed after an aircraft went off the runway while landing on Wednesday, the Airports Company of South Africa (Acsa) said.

British Airways Flight 203 was arriving from Johannesburg with 87 passengers and six crew on board when the incident occurred.

Acsa spokesperson Colin Naidoo said: "On landing, the aircraft went off the runway. We managed to move the passengers off the aircraft and to a safe location and trauma counsellors and paramedics are presently attending to them," said Naidoo.

At this stage, he said, no major injuries were reported.

"The airport is officially closed due to where the aircraft is on the runway. Once it has been moved and [the area] declared safe, the airport will be re-opened," Naidoo said.

Bad weather conditions were believed to have been the cause of the incident.

Other flights headed for Durban International have been told to turn back, said Naidoo.

- SAPA