Lima airport: Truck hit by plane on Peru runway was on planned drill

Two firefighters have died after a plane collided with a truck at Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima.

The firetruck that was involved in the runway crash at Peru’s biggest airport had been doing a pre-planned emergency drill, officials confirmed. 

Latam Airline’s CEO said the flight had been cleared for take-off but the airport has now said a routine drill was being carried out by the fire services. 

Videos circulating on social media show the plane careering down the runway, catching fire and smoking as it ground to a halt. 

In a statement on Sunday, Lima Airport Partners said the firefighting team had made all the arrangements to enter the runway. 

But the remarks were contradicted by the president of the board of directors of the Peruvian Corporation of Airports and Commercial Aviation (Corpac). 

Jorge Salinas told local radio the routine had no authorisation to enter the runway.

“There is authorisation to carry out an exercise, but it is outside the areas that currently have transit operations,” he said.

Twenty people received medical attention with two of them thought to be serious. 

Flights were suspended for more than 24 hours at Jorge Chávez International Airport, which is a main hub in South America.