Central America

The crew was performing an illegal flight from Colombia to Mexico with one ton of cocaine on board. While flying over the State of El Petén in Guatemala, the pilot informed ATC about technical problem and was cleared to divert to Santa Elena-Munda Maya Airport. On approach, the twin engine aircraft crashed in an open field located 30 km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed. Guatemaltecan Authorities confirmed that at the time of the accident, the aircraft was registered YV-1568 which was a false registration; the real one was XB-JVV.

Shortly after takeoff from runway 36, while climbing to a height of 50 feet, the crew raised the landing gear when the aircraft stalled. It landed back on the runway about 380 metres from the runway end. It slid on all this distance, overran then turned to the left and came to rest in a grassy area about 60 metres past the runway end. All 13 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The crew was performing an illegal flight from Colombia to the United States via Cancún, Mexico. While cruising over Mexico, the crew was tracked by a Mexican Air Force's Embraer EMB-145. The crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in an open field located near Tixkokob. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and both pilot were arrested few minutes later. A total of 3.3 tons of cocaine was found on board the airplane, 132 bags of 25 kilos each.

On approach to Guadalajara-Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla Airport, the crew selected flaps and slats down but noticed an asymmetry. During the second approach, flaps were selected down via the alternate system. The airplane landed with the landing gear in a transit position, causing both engines to struck the ground after touchdown. After a course of few hundred metres, the aircraft came to rest, bursting into flames due to the engine friction on the ground. The fire was quickly extinguished but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. All 109 occupants evacuated safely.

Few minutes after takeoff from Port-au-Prince Airport, the pilot attempted an emergency landing 10 km north of the capital city. Upon landing, the single engine aircraft overturned and came to rest upside down. It was damaged beyond repair and all 9 occupants escaped with minor injuries. It is believed that a door improperly closed was the cause of the accident. Later, the Haïti civil aviation authority decided to suspend the AOC of the operator until further notice following two accidents in 12 days.

During the takeoff roll from San José-Juan Santamaria Airport runway 07, one of the tyre burst. The captain decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and initiated an emergency braking manoeuvre. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, lost its undercarriage, hit obstacles and came to rest near the perimeter fence. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Shortly after takeoff from Port-au-Prince-Toussaint Louverture Airport runway 10, while in initial climb, the engine lost power. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed in Croix-des-Bouquets, about 5 km east of the airport, coming to rest upside down. A passenger was slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

During the takeoff roll at La Ceiba-Goloson Airport, a tyre burst. The pilot rejected takeoff but the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came to rest 116 metres further. All nine passengers escaped uninjured while the pilot was seriously injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

On August 11, 2007, at 1635 Atlantic standard time, a Gates Learjet 35A, N500ND, registered to World Jet of Delaware Inc, and operated by World Jet II as a 14 CFR 135 on-demand on-scheduled international passenger air taxi flight, went off the end of runway 09 at Melville Hall, Dominica, on landing roll out. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage. The airline transport rated pilot in command (PIC), first officer (FO), and four passengers reported no injuries. The flight originated from Saint John's Antigua Island on August 11, 2007, at 1600. The PIC stated the first officer was flying the airplane and the tower cleared them to enter a left downwind. On touchdown the FO requested spoilers, and noticed poor braking. The PIC pumped the brakes with no response. The drag chute was deployed but was not effective. The PIC stated he took over the flight controls and applied maximum braking. The airplane continued to roll off the end of the runway, down an embankment, through a fence, and came to a stop on a road.

During the takeoff roll from runway 02, at a speed of about 100 km/h, the aircraft became unstable. The pilot-in-command elected to takeoff twice but the aircraft failed to respond. Twelve seconds later, the captain decided to abandon the takeoff procedure but this decision was taken too late as the remaining distance was 300 metres only. Unable to stop, the aircraft crossed the boundary fence then a motorway where it collided with several vehicles before coming to rest, bursting into flames. All three crew members were killed as well as seven people on the ground. Ten other people on the ground were seriously injured.