An aircraft destined for Tokyo, Japan with eight passengers and crew members on board has crashed near Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila, Philippines, Manila's main airport said. The flight was reportedly chartered by the Philippine government to evacuate a patient to Tokyo.
The Manila International Airport Authority has confirmed the accident, which it said took place at the end of the airport's Runway 24.
The plane was carrying three medical personnel, three crew members, a patient and a companion, Senator and Head of the Philippine Red Cross Richard Gordon said on Twitter.
The plane caught fire and exploded as it was taking off the NAIA runway 24.
— Richard J. Gordon (@DickGordonDG) March 29, 2020
Social media users have shared photos and videos of the plane. Fire crews were promptly dispatched to douse the plane with foam.
Shocks! Just in Airplane crash at NAIA Rwy 24 Lion Air aircraft registration RPC-5880 carrying Med supplies pic.twitter.com/Vkkv087Qx8
— s h é r ✈️ (@pursherrr) March 29, 2020
Plane burns in NAIA @gmanews (video from source) pic.twitter.com/YLh6sYWj7W
— Joseph Morong 🇵🇭 (@Joseph_Morong) March 29, 2020
CTTO pic.twitter.com/eVD3wZB0yn
— ahitpogi 🔪 (@after_shave) March 29, 2020
Globally, more than 684,000 people have contracted the COVID-19 disease since the outbreak began in China in late December. Over 32,000 have died of virus-related complications.
