Haiti Earthquake: Passengers were boarding American Airlines plane when earthquake hit
As passengers were boarding an American Airlines plane at Haiti’s Port-au-Prince’s airport on Tuesday an earthquake hit the nation, damaging the airport.
The AA flight 1908 was scheduled to leave from Haiti at 17:30 local time but instead took off at 18:41. Andrea Huguely, spokeswoman for American Airlines said the plane was allowed to take off only after the runway was inspected by officials. She added the plane safely landed at 20:33 in Miami and at present, American Airlines does not have any more planes on the ground in Haiti.
The Port-au-Prince airport suffered damage in the disastrous earthquake and was closed on Tuesday night. The airport will remain closed on Wednesday too.
Eleven crew members and 49 passengers were present on the flight 1908 flying to Miami. Earlier, 176 passengers were supposed to board the plane but after the earthquake, the majority elected to stay behind.
Haiti has a population of 9 million and the annual per-capita income in the Caribbean nation is $560. The country is the poorest country in the Americas and ranks 146 out of 177 in the Human Development Index of UNDP. Half of Haiti population earns less than $1 per day and 78% earn less than $2. The infrastructure in Haiti is close to a total collapse and because of severe deforestation, only 2 percent of forest cover is left.
The Haiti earthquake is the strongest to hit the nation in 200 years and relief operations are being conducted by the Haiti Red Cross and other organizations.
I pray for those people who have been injured in Haiti. the earthquake in Haiti is one of the word disasters this year. I just hope that they would be able to recover soon.