QCOSTARICA – The take-off of a U.S. Air Force plane at the Liberia, Guanacaste, airport left one person hurt. The incident occurred about 2:00pm Sunday.
The exhaust from the C17 large military transport aircraft’s turbines shattered the security hut (casetilla in Spanish), injuring the security officer. The aircraft is powered by four fully reversible engines, each rated at 40,440 pounds of thrust.
Mainor Umaña, official of the Liberia Red Cross (Cruz Roja), said the officer was not seriously injured, but was taken to the Enrique Baltodano medical centre in Liberia, for evaluation. The official’s identity was not revealed.
U.S. military aircraft are permitted to enter the country as long as they are not equipped with artillery.
Photo of the C17 on the tarmac of the Liberia airport (LIR) on February 27 posted on Facebook by SJO Planespotting
