Honduras capital without int'l airport after crash
TEGUCIGALPA, June 2 (Reuters) - The Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa will be without an international airport for two months after authorities banned all but domestic flights there following a deadly air crash, officials said on Monday.
The country will adapt a military airstrip for civilian use after a Salvadoran passenger plane skidded off a runway last week at Tegucigalpa's airport and smashed into cars and a building. Five people died.
In the meantime, international flights into the country must arrive at San Pedro Sula, 100 miles (165 km) from Tegucigalpa.
"We have set up an emergency plan in which we see an international airport operating within two months," civil aviation head Guillermo Seaman said at a press conference.
Tegucigalpa is nestled in hills and has a reputation as one of the most treacherous airports in Latin America due to a difficult approach. An investigation into the causes of the crash is still under way.
The new airport will be in Palmerola, about 40 miles (65 km) from the capital. (Reporting by Gustavo Palencia; Editing by Bill Trott)
The country will adapt a military airstrip for civilian use after a Salvadoran passenger plane skidded off a runway last week at Tegucigalpa's airport and smashed into cars and a building. Five people died.
In the meantime, international flights into the country must arrive at San Pedro Sula, 100 miles (165 km) from Tegucigalpa.
"We have set up an emergency plan in which we see an international airport operating within two months," civil aviation head Guillermo Seaman said at a press conference.
Tegucigalpa is nestled in hills and has a reputation as one of the most treacherous airports in Latin America due to a difficult approach. An investigation into the causes of the crash is still under way.
The new airport will be in Palmerola, about 40 miles (65 km) from the capital. (Reporting by Gustavo Palencia; Editing by Bill Trott)
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