Pilot killed as USA Jet DC-9 freighter crashes in Mexico
David Kaminski-Morrow (06Jul08, 18:30 GMT, 160 words)
At least one fatality is being reported after a cargo-configured McDonnell Douglas DC-9 crashed while approaching Saltillo in Mexico early today.
It was being operated by Michigan-based carrier USA Jet Airlines.
The aircraft has been tentatively identified as bearing registration N199US, that of a 41-year old DC-9-10 belonging to the carrier. The twin-jet is powered by Pratt & Whitney JT8D engines.
It apparently crashed north of Plan de Guadalupe Airport, at 01:15, while arriving after a service from Hamilton, Canada, via Shreveport in Louisiana.
Images from the scene suggest the aircraft, which was destroyed in the accident, came down on a road. One of the two crew members on board has reportedly been killed and the other taken to hospital.
Plan de Guadalupe Airport, which is surrounded by high terrain, has two runways but the main one, 17/35, is about 2,880m (9,450ft) long and equipped with an instrument landing system.
Weather conditions at the time of the accident are unknown.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
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