A charter plane carrying 143 people and travelling from Cuba to north Florida has ended up in a river at the end of a runway, though local officials say no critical injuries or deaths were reported.
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A Boeing 737 arriving at Naval Air Station Jacksonville from Naval Station Guantanamo Bay with 136 passengers and seven crew slid off the runway into the St Johns River, a NAS Jacksonville statement said.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office posted on Twitter that a marine unit responded to assist, with the plane in shallow water and not submerged.
Everyone on the plane was alive and accounted for, the agency posted, with 21 adults transported to local hospitals in good condition.
Local station WOKV-TV said at least two people suffered minor injuries and the plane was attempting to land during a heavy thunderstorm.
A photo posted by deputies shows a Miami Air International logo on the plane. The company didn't immediately respond to requests for comment, while Boeing said the company was aware of the incident.
Captain Michael Connor, the commanding officer of NAS Jacksonville, said passengers were a mix of civilian and military personnel, with some staying in the area and others set to fly to other parts of the US.
"I think it is a miracle," Connor said.
"We could be talking about a different story this evening."
It's unclear how long it will take to remove the plane from the river, but Connor said the landing gear appeared to be resting on the river bed. He said crews immediately worked to contain jet fuel leaks.
The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department posted on Twitter that approximately 90 personnel responded to the scene.
Navy security and emergency response personnel were also on the scene and monitoring the situation, a Navy release said. Family members who were expecting the arrival of passengers were instructed to stand by.
Officials did not immediately say what caused the plane to leave the runway.
The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.
With Reuters
Australian Associated Press
