Eight die as plane carrying patient, Coronavirus supplies crashes in Manila

 A chartered medical evacuation flight carrying three medical personnel, three flight crew, a patient and a companion crashed during takeoff in Manila, Philippines.

In a statement released by authorities at Manila’s main airport, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), it was gathered that the Lionair plane owned by a Philippines-registered charter service Lionair, was bound for Haneda, Japan, but burst into flames at the end of the runway around 8.00pm.

All eight passengers and crew, including an American and a Canadian died in the crash. The twin-jet West Wind 24 plane was carrying three medical personnel, three flight crew, a patient and a companion.

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said in a statement;

“The flight, which was on a med-evac mission to Haneda, Japan, was carrying two passengers and six crew members.

“Unfortunately, no passenger survived the accident.”

The runway has been closed temporarily, affecting an arriving Korean Air flight that was diverted to Clark airport in northern Philippines, said MIAA General Manager Eddie Monreal.