A tragic plane crash in Colombia leaves 52 dead, but a 9-year-old girl survives thanks to a cushion of seaweed
She was traveling with her family when the DC-9 Intercontinental flight tragically went down. The plane exploded mid-air, and Erika was found on a mound of seaweed, which cushioned her fall.
Witnesses described the scene as chilling. The plane, flying without lights, plummeted and crashed into a lagoon. Farmers nearby heard Erika’s cries for help after the crash.
She told rescuers that her mother had pushed her out of the plane as it broke apart in flames. Despite the chaos, Erika was in good condition when she reached the hospital.
Rescue workers pulled many bodies from the lagoon, including the pilot and co-pilot. The crash site was a grim scene, with murky waters suspected to have carried some remains downstream.
The plane was approaching Cartagena airport when it requested to descend but was soon reported engulfed in flames. Witnesses saw it ablaze before it crashed.
Colombian aviation authorities are still investigating the cause, but they ruled out terrorism. They believe a wrong setting of the altimeter may have led to the crash.
This incident is one of Colombia’s deadliest aviation disasters in recent years, raising concerns about the country’s aviation safety record.
