No fatalities as plane skids off runway into river amid thunderstorms in Jacksonville, Florida
Heavy rain flooded roads in Houston, Texas, where drivers dangerously tested the floodwaters. Remember turn around, don't drown.
While there were minor injuries, all 136 passengers and seven crew members survived when a Boeing 737 slid off the runway into the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida, on Friday night. Thunderstorms were occurring at the time of the incident.
The plane skidded off the runway at the Jacksonville Naval Air Station (NAS) at approximately 9:40 p.m. EDT Friday, according to a press release from NAS. The Boeing 737 was arriving from Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
An investigation into why the plane landed in shallow water in the St. Johns River is underway.
According to preliminary weather observations, rain had started to fall at NAS shortly before 9 p.m. A thunderstorm with heavy rain and frequent lightning was reported at 9:22 p.m. and still at 9:45 p.m.
A Boeing 737 plane arriving from Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, skidded into shallow water of the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida, on Friday night, May 3, 2019. (Twitter/Jacksonville Sheriff's Office)
A total of 0.74 of an inch of rain had fallen in just the one hour ending at 10 p.m.
Officials stressed that the plane was not fully submerged when it entered the river.
Twenty one adults were transported to local hospitals. All were listed in good condition with no critical injuries.
The passengers on board the plane were a mixture of civilians and military personnel, officials stated during a press conference.
It is unclear when the plane will be removed from the river.
Numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected as crews continue to investigate the incident on Sunday.
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