A plane that tried to take off in 100mph winds smashed into a staircase and a building during a horrific storm in south America.
Strong winds hit Buenos Aires in Argentina yesterday and impacted the Aeroparque Jorge Newbery Airport causing over 100 to be cancelled. The Aerolineas Argentinas Boeing 737-700 was pushed by the gusts across the runway to the staircase used by passengers to board the plane.
The impact caused the staircase to topple onto the ground on its side and was quickly pulled by the wind towards staff vehicles.
Shocking footage from the airport shows the moment a plane’s wing hit a building.
The plane was damaged and grounded for repairs. This meant its next scheduled flight to Mendoza Governor Francisco Gabrielli International Airport was cancelled.
Aerolineas Argentinas said in a statement: “Aerolíneas Argentinas reports that due to the strong storm that mainly affected the operation of Aeroparque, 100 flights have been cancelled so far, and the same number have suffered delays and rescheduling.”
The company said they may continue “making modifications and/or cancellations for the rest of the day, as a result of the impact caused by the early morning weather situation, as well as the intermittent closures of the airports due to electrical activity”.
The severe storm that caused the wind killed at least 16 people in Argentina and neighbouring Uruguay. One woman died after being hit by a fallen tree branch in Moreno and 13 more died after a wall collapsed in Bahia Blanca.
Argentine President Javier Milei visited the accident site on Sunday.
