Miami Air Charter

USPA NEWS - Officials in Jacksonville, Florida reported that a Miami Air Boeing 737 traveling from Cuba to Florida skidded off of a runway in Florida, Friday night.

Miami Air Charter flight #LL293  carrying 136 passengers and 7 crew over shot the runway when landing in Jacksonville Florida during heavy rain and ended up in a river.

The Boeing 737-800 was a charted Military flight that originated in Guantanamo, Cuba and was traveling to the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville where it skidded of the runway and ended up in the St John's River.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Released the following statement. "JOS Marine Unit was called to assist NAS in reference to a commercial airplane in shallow water. The plane was not submerged. Every person is alive and accounted for. There were 21 adults taken to local hospitals, all in good condition, no critical injuries." 

This flight was chartered by the US Military and  was carrying military personnel home for time off. It also included families members who were associated with the military. Witnesses say that fire crews used  a cable to pull passenger's in inflatable rafts to safety at a nearby pier. It is reported that there were some pets that had been checked in as luggage and were stored below as such.The Naval Air Station Jacksonville said in a Facebook statement, "Pets have not been rescued due to safety reasons. Our hearts go out to those pet owners in this terrible incident."