A small aircraft collided on Wednesday with office buildings located on the airstrip of Las Nuevas, a locality in the municipality of La Sierpe, known for being one of Cuba's major rice-producing areas.
The crash involved a crop-dusting plane, model 18-1832, and resulted in significant property damage, though fortunately, no injuries were reported.
According to reports from Escambray newspaper, the incident occurred around 6:55 a.m. when the plane hit the administrative infrastructure for reasons that are currently under investigation.
Eyewitnesses reported that the collision caused extensive damage to part of the building.
Preliminary findings suggest that the aircraft experienced a brake failure, leading it to plow into the office structures.
The crew, consisting of the pilot and a technician, emerged unscathed, according to official reports.
The director of the company operating the flight confirmed to Escambray that a team of experts was dispatched to the site to assess the causes of the crash and evaluate the material damages.
Such aircraft are typically used in Cuba for agricultural spraying and firefighting support, the source highlighted.
This accident in Sancti Spíritus is not an isolated event within Cuba's agricultural aviation sector. In September, another crop-dusting plane crashed in the municipality of Venezuela in Ciego de Ávila after encountering a malfunction during landing on a rural runway.
While the pilot survived, the aircraft was completely destroyed, causing alarm among local agricultural workers.
Another similar incident was reported last year in Sancti Spíritus, where a plane crashed while performing spraying maneuvers in a remote area, resulting in injuries to the pilot and severe damage to the aircraft's structure.
That incident also prompted an investigation into the technical condition of the aircraft used in state agricultural activities.
Key Questions About Recent Aircraft Incidents in Cuba
What caused the recent plane crash in Sancti Spíritus?
Preliminary reports suggest that a brake failure led to the aircraft colliding with office buildings.
Were there any injuries in the Sancti Spíritus plane crash?
No injuries were reported; the crew members, including the pilot and a technician, were unharmed.
How common are aircraft accidents in Cuba's agricultural sector?
Unfortunately, such incidents are not rare. Similar accidents have occurred in recent years, prompting investigations into the technical conditions of the aircraft used in this sector.