Terrifying video footage of the moment a cargo plane broke up on the tarmac of the airport in Costa Rica

Costa Rica authorities closed Juan Santamaria International Airport after a freighter operated by DHL made an emergency landing before it veered off the runway and broke up.

The airport operator, Iris, announced that the pilot and co-pilot had been evacuated.

And the newspaper "La Nacion" published pictures on Twitter showing the yellow plane, its separated tail and broken wing, and it had been doused with firefighting foam.

While DHL, a subsidiary of Deutsche Post AG, said that the crew was not harmed in the accident, it confirmed that "one of the crew members is undergoing medical examinations as a precaution."

"Iris" stated that Juan Santamaria Airport, located on the outskirts of the capital, San Jose, will remain closed until 6 pm local time (midnight GMT).

The closure affected 32 commercial flights to and from the United States, Central America, Mexico, Canada and Europe, and three cargo flights were affected.

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