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An Aerosucre Boeing 727-277 cargo plane experienced a dramatic emergency landing on Friday (December 12) when its landing gear collapsed upon touchdown at Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport in Barranquilla, Colombia. The incident resulted in significant damage to the aircraft, though fortunately, no injuries were reported among the crew members on board.
The Colombian Civil Aviation Authority (Aerocivil) confirmed that the airport was temporarily closed to assess the damage and ensure safety. Footage from the airport showed the aircraft tilting to one side, releasing a stream of sparks as its left wing scraped along the runway. Investigators suspect the landing gear suffered from structural or mechanical failure.
Aerosucre, a cargo-only airline based in BogotĂĄ, continues to operate aging Boeing 727s, which are now rare in active service. These aircraft were converted from 1970s passenger jets to freighters. The airline provides scheduled and domestic cargo services throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
Aviation experts have noted that the emergency landing was not merely a stroke of bad luck, but rather a consequence of operating a 50-year-old cargo jet. This incident follows other recent accidents involving Boeing cargo planes, including a fatal crash in Kentucky last month.
As the investigation into the landing gear failure continues, the airport remains closed to review potential damage to the infrastructure, including an affected runway light. The aviation community will be closely monitoring the findings to determine the cause and prevent future occurrences.