Conviasa reports seven major events in eight years

Since Venezuelan airline Conviasa began operations in 2004, seven major events have been reported.

The most significant took place in September, 2010.  Seventeen out of the 42 people on board died after a Conviasa aircraft crashed into the facilities of state-run steel company Sidor in Puerto Ordaz, State of Bolívar (South Venezuela).

On Monday, a new incident occurred. This time it was flight 2197 with 67 passengers on board. The aircraft involved was an ATR-72 that was taking off from Antonio Nicolás Briceño airport located in the state of Trujillo, west Venezuela. No deaths were reported. 

So far the airline has not released any information regarding the causes of the failure; yet technical problems may have prevented the airplane from taking off. 

In a press release, passenger Kismara Ramos said to Venezuelan TV news network Globovisión that the plane had begun take-off operations at normal speed, but then it slowed down and stopped at the end of the runway, right by the bushes. "The tires burst and the landing gear collapsed. Emergency evacuation was set in motion," Ramos said. 

Translated by Jhean Cabrera