Plane Slides off Runway into Florida River; No Fatalities

Authorities in the southeastern U.S. state of Florida say a Boeing 737 skidded off a runway at Naval Air Station Jacksonville and slid into the Saint Johns River while landing Friday night with 136 passengers on board.

WOKV-TV, a local television station, said the flight was approaching the runway in a heavy thunderstorm when it went into the river at the end of the runway.

The station said 21 adults were taken to area hospitals, but “all were listed in good condition.”

The Miami International Air flight was a military charter from the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Photographs of the plane showed that the aircraft was not submerged in the water.

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said crews were working to contain jet fuel on the water.

A Boeing spokesman said the company is aware of the incident and is gathering information about it, according to a Reuters report.
…