Accelerating airliner slams into fire engine on runway as it tried to take off

Photo: Twitter

A Chilean airliner slammed into a fire engine on the runway, Friday, at the airport in Lima, Peru.

AeroInside.com reports that the LATAM Airbus A320-200N slammed into one of several fire trucks when they crossed the runway as it was accelerating for takeoff.

The flight was about to depart for Juliaca, Peru, with 102 passengers and six crew on board.

The airliner "was accelerating for takeoff from Lima's runway 16 ... when multiple fire trucks with flashing lights and sirens sounding crossed the runway in front of the accelerating aircraft. The crew rejected takeoff at high speed (at about 125 knots) but wasn't able to avoid contact" with the third fire engine, AeroInside reports.

The collision collapsed the aircraft's right main gear, causing it to veer right towards the runway edge, coming to a stop partially off the runway.

A fire erupted around the right hand engine, but all occupants were able to evacuate safely. Four passengers did receive serious injuries, however, and 36 received minor injuries.

The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the fire truck was destroyed in the impact.

Two firefighters did not survive and a third suffered serious injuries.

The fire trucks had been responding to another aircraft that had suffered mechanical problems.

#Breaking LATAM Flight LA2213, an A320, was involved in an accident at Lima (Peru), 2 fatalities reported. On take-off at Jorge Chávez airport, jet impacted a fire truck. Info so far states 2 firefighters aboard truck died in collision. Preliminary info, updates when possible. pic.twitter.com/On8XC3ER5j

— Air Safety #OTD by Francisco Cunha (@OnDisasters) November 19, 2022