Atlas Air Boeing 767 cargo aircraft has crashed on February 23, 2019. Three people were onboad, media reports indicate that so far one body has been recovered.
Flight 3591 was a cargo flight operated by Atlas Air on behalf of Amazon. It was en route from Miami to Houston, when it downed near the city of Anahuac Texas, in the Trinity Bay. Three people on board the aircraft.
Both the airline and the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States have confirmed the incident.
This is to confirm that an Atlas Air 767 cargo aircraft Flight No. 3591 operating
from Miami to Houston has been involved in an accident this afternoon. https://t.co/YLy9vlAYRL— Atlas Air Worldwide (@AtlasAirWW) February 23, 2019
“We understand the aircraft went down near the city of Anahuac Texas, in the Trinity Bay,” a statement by the airline reads. “We can confirm there were three people on board the aircraft. Those people and their family members are our top priority at this time. Atlas Air is cooperating fully with the FAA and NTSB. We will update as additional information becomes available”.
FAA, in turn, claims the Alert Notice was issued after losing radar and radio contact with the aircraft when it was approximately 30 miles southeast of Houston George Bush International Airport (IAH).
#FAA statement regarding a twin-engine Boeing 767 cargo jetliner crash near Anahuac, TX today around 12:45 p.m. CT. pic.twitter.com/7x2f0wYwcG
— The FAA (@FAANews) February 23, 2019
While neither the airline, nor aviation authorities comment on the people on board, Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne confirmed that one body has been recovered. Hawthorne also told CNN that “there was nothing intact of the airplane”, adding that ”Knowing what I saw, I don’t think anyone could survive it”.
The plane manufacturer Boeing has also released a statement, claiming it was “saddened” to hear about the accident and is ready to assist the investigation. “Boeing is deeply saddened to learn of the accident involving an Atlas Air 767 cargo airplane that crashed into Trinity Bay near Anahuac, Texas, shortly before 12:45 p.m. local time Saturday,” the statement read. “We are concerned about the safety of the three people reported to be on board the airplane. We are prepared to provide technical assistance to the National Transportation Safety Board as it investigates the accident”.