Aerorex Cargo Plane Suffers Landing Gear Failure at Tampico Airport
Flight operations at the Aeropuerto Internacional Francisco Javier Mina in Tampico, Tamaulipas, suffered significant disruptions after a cargo plane experienced a landing gear failure este domingo 8 de noviembre.
Users reported the incident around 12:30 hours, upon being warned of the mishap and taking their precautions ahead of scheduled travel to destinations such as Mexico City and Texas. The incident resulted in the temporary closure of the runway, delayed connections, and diverted commercial flights.
Runway blockage halts Tamaulipas traffic. The plane, identified as a cargo unit with registration XA-TGV operated by Aerorex and coming from Reynosa, touched down on its fuselage before coming to a complete stop on the tarmac, La Jornada reports. The aircraft was transporting a special cargo of sterile flies destined to combat the screwworm pest affecting livestock, with a planned onward route to Hermosillo, Sonora. Following the landing mishap, two Guatemalan crew members aboard the aircraft resulted ilesos, though the plane sustained material damage and required a crane to move it to the airport workshops.
The nave remained on the runway without using the landing gear and impeded both the arrival and departure of flights, causing delays and diversions toward other destinations near the southern zone of Tamaulipas.
Four companies decided to postpone trips or have those already en route make a mandatory stop in Querétaro, while the private unit apparently experienced landing gear issues upon touching down and entered through the northern part of the runway, with the pilot avoiding a greater situation and managing to stop at the level of the private hangars.
The emergency landing prompted aviation authorities to issue a NOTAM to notify pilots regarding the runway closure and operational restrictions at the terminal. Commercial operations saw immediate schedule adjustments as American Airlines, United, Aeroméxico, and Aerus reported delays between 13:00 and 14:00 hours, impacting passengers traveling to and from Houston, Dallas, Mexico City, and Monterrey.
At least one commercial flight was diverted to Querétaro, and overall connections and scheduled landings experienced delays of up to 120 minutes. Meanwhile, a secondary pista alterna 01/19 remained available for certain private medium-sized aircraft depending on operating conditions and authorizations.
Airport emergency protocols activated immediately upon the aircraft’s arrival during the midday hours, while Grupo Aeroportuario Centro Norte (OMA) did not initially release a detailed statement regarding the incident.
Sunday operations at the Tampico terminal typically encompass approximately 20 scheduled flights across morning, afternoon, and evening periods, leaving airlines to advise travelers to verify their itineraries directly amid the unexpected runway obstruction. Meanwhile, the airline Viva maintained its afternoon flights without modification.