A runway at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) will be closed for approximately 48 hours after an Amazon PrimeAir cargo airplane ran off the airstrip during landing early Tuesday morning.
In a statement to 1130 NewsRadio, YVR says the incident happened around 1:45 a.m. when the aircraft “overran the eastern boundary of YVR’s North Runway.”
“Safety and security are our top priorities. YVR Fire and Rescue attended. There were no injuries reported and the CargoJet crew of three were safely deplaned,” said Chloe Reynaud, communications specialist.
The North Runway is closed while airport crews assess the plane, which is sitting near a fence by Templeton Street, and the runway. Reynaud shares that the will likely remain closed for 48 hours, and will have an impact on operations and flight schedules.
“Aircraft continue to arrive and depart on our South Runway. We encourage passengers to check with their airlines for current flight schedules and status before heading to YVR,” she added.
Pictures sent to 1130 NewsRadio show the aircraft sitting on its belly with the landing gear collapsed.
“This event will have an impact on YVR operations while we work to bring the North Runway safely back into operation. We encourage passengers to check with their airlines for current flight schedules and status,” Reynaud added.
YVR says further updates about the situation will be shared when they become available. Reynaud adds the airport has extra resources on hand to support travellers in the terminal.
“We appreciate the work of those responding to the incident and everybody’s patience.”
In a statement, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada says it’s sending a team of investigators to YVR “following a runway overrun of a Boeing 767 operated by CargoJet Airways.”
“The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence,” it said.
source: CityNews photo:supplied
