Emergency Cargo Plane Landing Causes HERA Runway Closure

An incoming cargo plane made an emergency landing at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) in St. Croix this morning, due to failed landing gear deployment.  The pilot safely landed the plane and glided to a stop on the runway.  The Virgin Islands Port Authority closed the runway at 8:55 a.m.

Air Flamenco flight number WAF2203 was transporting cargo from the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in Puerto Rico to St. Croix.  Emergency crews immediately responded to the emergency landing of the short 360 aircraft.  No fatalities or injuries were reported by the pilot or the one flight crew member, said VIPA Executive Director Carlton Dowe. The plane had no other passengers onboard.

Dowe said VIPA has notified the Federal Aviation Administration of the incident and is working with contracted towing services to remove the aircraft.  The runway closure will cause some delays to incoming and outgoing flights.  VIPA apologizes for the delay as it works as quickly as possible to safely reopen the runway.

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