33 unhurt after plane overshoots runway

2009-12-07 13:16

Roy McKenzie

Cape Town - SA Airlink has confirmed that its flight SA8625 operating from Cape Town to George was involved in "an incident" on landing at George Airport on Monday morning, but that 30 passengers and three crew are unhurt.

"The aircraft, an Embraer 135 (37 seat) regional jet ZS SJX, is reported as having aquaplaned off the end of the wet runway," SA Airlink said.

The incident occurred at 11:06.

"Airlink has arranged trauma counselling for all passengers and crew. Airport staff and trauma councillors are with the passengers at present," spokesperson Karin Murray said.

Ended up on road

"The aircraft appears to be damaged the extent of which is unknown at this stage."

The company apologised for any inconvenience caused to passengers, and said it would release further information as soon as it becomes available.

"The airplane landed at about 11:00 this morning, it went through the lights at the end of the runway, through the fence, and ended up on the road itself," Western Cape police spokesperson Inspector Bernadine Steyn told News24 from the scene.

Traffic was not affected.

Western Cape Safety and Security department spokesperson Julian Jansen told Sapa that the plane came to a halt at an intersection between the airport and the N2 freeway.

"The plane overshot the runway because the brakes apparently failed," Sapa quoted him as saying.

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- News24