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No deaths as plane crashes into river

Published:Sunday | May 5, 2019 | 12:00 AM
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The Associated Press
A charter plane carrying 143 people and traveling from Cuba to north Florida sits in a river at the end of a runway, Saturday, May 4, 2019 in Jacksonville, Fla. The Boeing 737 arriving at Naval Air Station Jacksonville from Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, with 136 passengers and seven aircrew slid off the runway Friday night into the St. Johns River, a NAS Jacksonville news release said. (AP Photo/APTN)
The Associated Press
In this photo released by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, authorities work at the scene of a plane in the water in Jacksonville, Fla., Friday, May 3, 2019. Officials say a charter plane traveling from Cuba to north Florida ended up in a river at the end of a runway. A Naval Air Station Jacksonville news release says a Boeing 737 arriving from Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, crashed into the St. Johns River Friday night. (Jacksonville Sheriff's Office via AP)
The Associated Press
Base Commander Captain Mike Connor, Commanding Officer NAS Jacksonville, speaks about a plane crash on Friday at a news briefing near the front gate of Naval Air Station (NAS) in Jacksonville, Fla., early Saturday, May 4, 2019. A charter plane with multiple passengers traveling from Cuba to north Florida ended up in a river at the end of a runway Friday night, though no critical injuries or deaths were reported, officials said. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
The Associated Press
Base Commander Captain Mike Connor, Commanding Officer NAS Jacksonville, speaks about a plane crash at a news briefing near the front gate of Naval Air Station (NAS) in Jacksonville, Fla., early Saturday, May 4, 2019. A charter plane with multiple passengers traveling from Cuba to north Florida ended up in a river at the end of a runway Friday night, though no critical injuries or deaths were reported, officials said. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
The Associated Press
NAS Base Fire Chief Mark Brusoe, speaks about a plane crash at a news briefing near front gate of Naval Air Station (NAS) in Jacksonville, Fla., early Saturday, May 4, 2019. A charter plane with multiple passengers traveling from Cuba to north Florida ended up in a river at the end of a runway Friday night, though no critical injuries or deaths were reported, officials said. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
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(AP):

A chartered jet carrying 143 people from the US military base in Cuba tried to land in a thunderstorm in north Florida and ended up in the river next to Naval Air Station Jacksonville. Authorities said everyone on board emerged without critical injuries, climbing on to the wings to be rescued.

The Boeing 737 arriving from Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, with 136 passengers and seven crew members came to a stop in shallow water in the St Johns River. Everyone on board was alive and accounted for, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said, with 21 adults transported to local hospitals in good condition.

Marine units from the sheriff’s department and Jacksonville Fire Rescue along with first responders from the naval air station helped passengers and crew to safety.

Captain Michael Connor, the commanding officer of NAS Jacksonville, said during a news conference that those on board were a mix of civilian and military personnel, and that while some were staying in the area, others planned to fly on to other parts of the country.

“I think it is a miracle,” Connor said. “We could be talking about a different story this evening.”