Toncontín International Airport
Encyclopedia
Toncontín International Airport or Teniente Coronel Hernán Acosta Mejía Airport is a civil and military airport
that serves Tegucigalpa
, Honduras
. It is located 6 km (4 mi) from the center of Tegucigalpa.
The History Channel
program Most Extreme Airports, ranks it as the second most dangerous airport in the world.
Since the 19th century, the plain
s south of Tegucigalpa became known as the "Potrero Los Llanos", part of a farm adjoining the farm Loarque. In these areas, political events took place. Jose Santos Guardiola
defeated General Trinidad Cabanas, seizing the presidency of Honduras. "El Llano" as it was known, is to the south end of Comayagüela. On a road to the south is the field that served for the takeoff and landing of aircraft. Currently, this forms the Hernan Acosta Mejia (HAM) Air Force base. The first landing was in 1921 when a single-engine plane from the Bristol Aeroplane Company
landed with Captain Dean Ivan Lamb
in command. He was received by many people, including beautiful "Damita" society, as well as President Rafael López Gutiérrez
who broke a bottle of champagne on one of the aircraft
's propeller
s.
The origin of the name Toncontín is unknown, but experts say that it is a word derived from the Nahuatl
word "Tocotín", the name of an ancient and sacred dance of Yucatan
, Mexico
.
The Aviator Luigi Venditti conducted several flights using the natural floodplain from Toncontín. Jose Villa, an Italian national, was another precursor of Honduran aviation who conducted flights from Toncontín; as did Starnaivola, Enrique Massi, Ball, and Clarence H. Brown.
The civil war in 1924 caused Tiburcio Carías to realize that aviation had a great future in Honduras, providing an ideal transport solution for a mountainous country; as well as being a strategic military weapon. For these reasons and with the growth of commercial aviation and the emergence of the Honduran Air Force
, General Tiburcio Carias, acquired the land that was to become Toncontín airport in 1933. On January 5, 1934 Toncontín airport was inaugurated with the landing of a Douglas DC-3
from Pan American World Airways
. Months later TACA
opened "Hotel Toncontín" to accommodate passengers in transit, and Pan-Am built a hangar.
During the Football War
of 1969, Toncontín was a major target for the Salvadoran Air Force
, and it was bomb
ed on several occasions by Salvadoran Air-raids.
, currently an airbase. Toncontín has, however, been significantly improved by the work of Airport Corporation of Tegucigalpa (ACT) and InterAirports
, a company contracted by the Honduran government to administer the country's four major airports.
The airport has a single asphalt
runway
, which sits at an elevation of 1005 m (3,297 ft) AMSL. Until May 2009 the runway was only 6112 ft (1,863 m) in length. In 2007 the approach to runway 02 was made significantly easier by work which systematically bulldozed a large portion of the hillside, immediately before the threshold. Following on from this work, in May 2009, the southern end of the runway received a 984 ft (300 m) extension, lengthening it to 7096 ft (2,163 m). As of 2011 the runway is listed as being 2021 metre
Boeing 757
s are the largest aircraft that normally land at Toncontín. Even with its recent runway extension, Toncontín has one of the shortest international runways in the world.
Historically, larger aircraft have occasionally landed at Toncontín, such as a Douglas DC-8
on a mission with Orbis International
in 1987, and a C-17 Globemaster in 2008, 2009 and 2011. In the 1980s SAHSA
operated Boeing 727
's from its hub at Toncontín.
Toncontín International Airport has 4 gates (2 in the new terminal), a post office, a bank and bureau de change
, many restaurants, and several airline lounges, as well as a duty free shop, car rental services and a first aid room. The old terminal is undergoing renovation, and will be used for domestic flights in the future. The new terminal is now used for international flights.
Toncontín is also the home of the Aeroclub de Honduras (Honduran Air Club).
prompted the announcement by then Honduran President Manuel Zelaya
that all large aircraft operations would move to the Soto Cano Air Base. This move would effectively move all international traffic from Toncontín, limiting its use to only domestic flights and small aircraft.
The International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO) completed a review of Toncontín and made safety recommendations regarding the airport. On June 25, 2008, President Zelaya reiterated his position of severely restricting international traffic to and from Toncontín and announced his intention to form a commission that would oversee implementing the safety recommendations of the ICAO report.
On July 7, 2008, President Zelaya announced the reopening of Toncontín airport at a news conference following a three-hour meeting with businessmen, who had demanded commercial flights resume at Toncontín due to Soto Cano Air Base being too far from Tegucigalpa
. Zelaya reiterated that all commercial flights would eventually use the new airport at Soto Cano Air Base from 2009. This however, was canceled after Zelaya was removed from office on June 28, 2009 in the 2009 Honduran coup d'état
. International flights continue to operate to Toncontín.
The approach to Toncontín airport is one of the most difficult in the world to all aircraft, especially in inclement weather conditions.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
that serves Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa , and commonly referred as Tegus , is the capital of Honduras and seat of government of the Republic, along with its twin sister Comayagüela. Founded on September 29, 1578 by the Spanish, it became the country's capital on October 30, 1880 under President Marco Aurelio Soto...
, Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
. It is located 6 km (4 mi) from the center of Tegucigalpa.
The History Channel
The History Channel
History, formerly known as The History Channel, is an American-based international satellite and cable TV channel that broadcasts a variety of reality shows and documentary programs including those of fictional and non-fictional historical content, together with speculation about the future.-...
program Most Extreme Airports, ranks it as the second most dangerous airport in the world.
History
Plain
In geography, a plain is land with relatively low relief, that is flat or gently rolling. Prairies and steppes are types of plains, and the archetype for a plain is often thought of as a grassland, but plains in their natural state may also be covered in shrublands, woodland and forest, or...
s south of Tegucigalpa became known as the "Potrero Los Llanos", part of a farm adjoining the farm Loarque. In these areas, political events took place. Jose Santos Guardiola
José Santos Guardiola
General José Santos Guardiola Bustillo was President of Honduras from 17 February 1856 to 11 January 1862, when he became the only President of Honduras to be assassinated while in office in a crime committed by his personal guard.His parents were Esteban Guardiola and Bibiana Bustillo...
defeated General Trinidad Cabanas, seizing the presidency of Honduras. "El Llano" as it was known, is to the south end of Comayagüela. On a road to the south is the field that served for the takeoff and landing of aircraft. Currently, this forms the Hernan Acosta Mejia (HAM) Air Force base. The first landing was in 1921 when a single-engine plane from the Bristol Aeroplane Company
Bristol Aeroplane Company
The Bristol Aeroplane Company, originally the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, was both one of the first and one of the most important British aviation companies, designing and manufacturing both airframes and aero engines...
landed with Captain Dean Ivan Lamb
Dean Ivan Lamb
Dean Ivan Lamb was an aviator born on January 25, 1886 in Pennsylvania, USA.During the Mexican Revolution, Lamb was hired as a mercenary. He flew reconnaissance missions and dropped primitive bombs. Phil Rader, a mercenary for a rival faction, was sent up to intercept Lamb...
in command. He was received by many people, including beautiful "Damita" society, as well as President Rafael López Gutiérrez
Rafael López Gutiérrez
General Rafael López Gutiérrez was President of Honduras between 1 February 1920 and 10 March 1924. A former general in the Honduran Army, Gutierrez attempted to extend his term in office past its designated end, and was forced from office...
who broke a bottle of champagne on one of the aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
's propeller
Propeller (aircraft)
Aircraft propellers or airscrews convert rotary motion from piston engines or turboprops to provide propulsive force. They may be fixed or variable pitch. Early aircraft propellers were carved by hand from solid or laminated wood with later propellers being constructed from metal...
s.
The origin of the name Toncontín is unknown, but experts say that it is a word derived from the Nahuatl
Nahuatl
Nahuatl is thought to mean "a good, clear sound" This language name has several spellings, among them náhuatl , Naoatl, Nauatl, Nahuatl, Nawatl. In a back formation from the name of the language, the ethnic group of Nahuatl speakers are called Nahua...
word "Tocotín", the name of an ancient and sacred dance of Yucatan
Yucatán
Yucatán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Yucatán is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 106 municipalities and its capital city is Mérida....
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
The Aviator Luigi Venditti conducted several flights using the natural floodplain from Toncontín. Jose Villa, an Italian national, was another precursor of Honduran aviation who conducted flights from Toncontín; as did Starnaivola, Enrique Massi, Ball, and Clarence H. Brown.
The civil war in 1924 caused Tiburcio Carías to realize that aviation had a great future in Honduras, providing an ideal transport solution for a mountainous country; as well as being a strategic military weapon. For these reasons and with the growth of commercial aviation and the emergence of the Honduran Air Force
Honduran Air Force
The Honduras Air Force is the air force of Honduras. As such it is the air power arm of the Honduras Armed Forces.-History:...
, General Tiburcio Carias, acquired the land that was to become Toncontín airport in 1933. On January 5, 1934 Toncontín airport was inaugurated with the landing of a Douglas DC-3
Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
from Pan American World Airways
Pan American World Airways
Pan American World Airways, commonly known as Pan Am, was the principal and largest international air carrier in the United States from 1927 until its collapse on December 4, 1991...
. Months later TACA
Grupo TACA
TACA is the trade name "brand" comprising a group of five independently IATA-coded and -owned Central American airlines, whose operations are combined to function as one and a number of other independently owned and IATA-coded regional airlines which code-share and feed the TACA brand system...
opened "Hotel Toncontín" to accommodate passengers in transit, and Pan-Am built a hangar.
During the Football War
Football War
The Football War , also known as the Soccer War or 100 hour War, was a four-day war fought by El Salvador and Honduras in 1969. It was caused by political conflicts between Hondurans and Salvadorans, namely issues concerning immigration from El Salvador to Honduras...
of 1969, Toncontín was a major target for the Salvadoran Air Force
Military of El Salvador
The Armed Forces of El Salvador, in Spanish Fuerza Armada de El Salvador is the official name of the combined armed forces of El Salvador...
, and it was bomb
Bomb
A bomb is any of a range of explosive weapons that only rely on the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy...
ed on several occasions by Salvadoran Air-raids.
Facilities
The airport received much notoriety as being one of the most dangerous in the world due to its proximity to mountainous terrain, its short runway, and its historically difficult approach to runway 02. For years efforts have been made to replace it with Soto Cano airport in ComayaguaComayagua
Comayagua is a city in Honduras, some 80 km northwest of Tegucigalpa on the highway to San Pedro Sula at an elevation of 594 meters above sea level. In 2003 the estimated population was 60,000 people. It is the capital of the Comayagua department of Honduras. The city is noted for its wealth...
, currently an airbase. Toncontín has, however, been significantly improved by the work of Airport Corporation of Tegucigalpa (ACT) and InterAirports
InterAirports
InterAirports is the company that administers all four international airports of Honduras directed by Freddy Nasser.* La Ceiba – Golosón International Airport* Roatán – Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport...
, a company contracted by the Honduran government to administer the country's four major airports.
The airport has a single asphalt
Asphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
, which sits at an elevation of 1005 m (3,297 ft) AMSL. Until May 2009 the runway was only 6112 ft (1,863 m) in length. In 2007 the approach to runway 02 was made significantly easier by work which systematically bulldozed a large portion of the hillside, immediately before the threshold. Following on from this work, in May 2009, the southern end of the runway received a 984 ft (300 m) extension, lengthening it to 7096 ft (2,163 m). As of 2011 the runway is listed as being 2021 metre
Boeing 757
Boeing 757
The Boeing 757 is a mid-size, narrow-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Passenger versions of the twinjet have a capacity of 186 to 289 persons and a maximum range of , depending on variant and cabin configuration...
s are the largest aircraft that normally land at Toncontín. Even with its recent runway extension, Toncontín has one of the shortest international runways in the world.
Historically, larger aircraft have occasionally landed at Toncontín, such as a Douglas DC-8
Douglas DC-8
The Douglas DC-8 is a four-engined narrow-body passenger commercial jet airliner, manufactured from 1958 to 1972 by the Douglas Aircraft Company...
on a mission with Orbis International
ORBIS International
Orbis International is an international non-profit non-governmental organization dedicated to saving sight worldwide. Orbis programs focus on the prevention of blindness and the treatment of blinding eye diseases in developing countries...
in 1987, and a C-17 Globemaster in 2008, 2009 and 2011. In the 1980s SAHSA
Sahsa
Servicio Aéreo de Honduras SA otherwise known as SAHSA Airlines was the national flag carrier airline of Honduras from October 22, 1945 to January 14, 1994...
operated Boeing 727
Boeing 727
The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...
's from its hub at Toncontín.
Toncontín International Airport has 4 gates (2 in the new terminal), a post office, a bank and bureau de change
Bureau de Change
A bureau de change or currency exchange is a business whose customers exchange one currency for another. Although originally French, the term bureau de change is widely used throughout Europe, and European travellers can usually easily identify these facilities when in other European countries...
, many restaurants, and several airline lounges, as well as a duty free shop, car rental services and a first aid room. The old terminal is undergoing renovation, and will be used for domestic flights in the future. The new terminal is now used for international flights.
Toncontín is also the home of the Aeroclub de Honduras (Honduran Air Club).
International flights suspension
On May 30, 2008, The tragedy of TACA Flight 390TACA Flight 390
TACA Flight 390 was a scheduled flight on May 30, 2008, by TACA Airlines from San Salvador, El Salvador, to Miami, Florida, United States, with intermediate stops at Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula in Honduras...
prompted the announcement by then Honduran President Manuel Zelaya
Manuel Zelaya
José Manuel Zelaya Rosales is a politician who was President of Honduras from January 27, 2006 until June 28, 2009. The eldest son of a wealthy businessman, he inherited his father's nickname "Mel," and, before entering politics, was involved in his family's logging and timber businesses.Elected...
that all large aircraft operations would move to the Soto Cano Air Base. This move would effectively move all international traffic from Toncontín, limiting its use to only domestic flights and small aircraft.
The International Civil Aviation Organization
International Civil Aviation Organization
The International Civil Aviation Organization , pronounced , , is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth...
(ICAO) completed a review of Toncontín and made safety recommendations regarding the airport. On June 25, 2008, President Zelaya reiterated his position of severely restricting international traffic to and from Toncontín and announced his intention to form a commission that would oversee implementing the safety recommendations of the ICAO report.
On July 7, 2008, President Zelaya announced the reopening of Toncontín airport at a news conference following a three-hour meeting with businessmen, who had demanded commercial flights resume at Toncontín due to Soto Cano Air Base being too far from Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa , and commonly referred as Tegus , is the capital of Honduras and seat of government of the Republic, along with its twin sister Comayagüela. Founded on September 29, 1578 by the Spanish, it became the country's capital on October 30, 1880 under President Marco Aurelio Soto...
. Zelaya reiterated that all commercial flights would eventually use the new airport at Soto Cano Air Base from 2009. This however, was canceled after Zelaya was removed from office on June 28, 2009 in the 2009 Honduran coup d'état
2009 Honduran coup d'état
The 2009 Honduran coup d'état, part of the 2009 Honduran constitutional crisis, occurred when the Honduran Army ousted President Manuel Zelaya and sent him into exile on June 28, 2009. It was prompted by his attempts to schedule a non binding poll on holding a referendum about convening a...
. International flights continue to operate to Toncontín.
Airlines and destinations
Toncontín today
- In 2009 TACA airlines could not operate to Toncontín and apparently the rest of the country's airports because of a state debt to Honduras, but on May 20, 2009; Taca said that the problems with Honduras were resolved.
- In 2009 Authorities at the airport finally decided to make use of masks and other measures to prevent the H1N1H1N1'Influenza A virus is a subtype of influenza A virus and was the most common cause of human influenza in 2009. Some strains of H1N1 are endemic in humans and cause a small fraction of all influenza-like illness and a small fraction of all seasonal influenza. H1N1 strains caused a few percent of...
flu virus, since the number of cases had risen to 34 in the country.
- In 2009 one year after the crash of TACA Flight 390TACA Flight 390TACA Flight 390 was a scheduled flight on May 30, 2008, by TACA Airlines from San Salvador, El Salvador, to Miami, Florida, United States, with intermediate stops at Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula in Honduras...
at Toncontín airport, that killed five people, business owners near the site of the tragedy complain that they have not been compensated.
- In 2008 Honduras' ousted ex-president Manuel ZelayaManuel ZelayaJosé Manuel Zelaya Rosales is a politician who was President of Honduras from January 27, 2006 until June 28, 2009. The eldest son of a wealthy businessman, he inherited his father's nickname "Mel," and, before entering politics, was involved in his family's logging and timber businesses.Elected...
said that, Tegucigalpa, the capital of the country, would benefit from the construction of the Palmerola airport, while others claim that this was an attempt to close Toncontín.
- The Civil Aviation Authority of Honduras temporarily suspended the license to operate of Islena AirlinesIslena AirlinesIsleña de Inversiones SA de CV, operating as Isleña Airlines under the TACA Regional brand, is an airline based in La Ceiba, Honduras. It offers mostly domestic scheduled and chartered passenger flights out of its hub at Golosón International Airport....
part of the Taca El Salvador groupGrupo TACATACA is the trade name "brand" comprising a group of five independently IATA-coded and -owned Central American airlines, whose operations are combined to function as one and a number of other independently owned and IATA-coded regional airlines which code-share and feed the TACA brand system...
, for outstanding debts of 37 million Honduran lempiraHonduran lempiraThe lempiras is the currency of Honduras. It is subdivided into 100 centavos. The lempira was named after the 16th-century cacique Lempira, a ruler of the indigenous Lenca people, who is renowned in Honduran folklore for leading the local native resistance against the Spanish conquistador forces...
, leaving the service of internal flights to Honduras in crisis.
- In May 2009, a 984 ft (300 m) extension was completed on south end of the runway, increasing the length of the runway from 6112 ft (1,863 m) to its previous 7096 ft (2,163 m). The extension is helpful for take offs, and rare landings from the north, however it is debatable whether it will assist with standard landings from the south due to the proximity to nearby mountains.
- On July 5, 2009, the airport was closed to all flights and the airspace in and around Toncontín was severely restricted due to the planned arrival of ousted Honduran president Manuel ZelayaManuel ZelayaJosé Manuel Zelaya Rosales is a politician who was President of Honduras from January 27, 2006 until June 28, 2009. The eldest son of a wealthy businessman, he inherited his father's nickname "Mel," and, before entering politics, was involved in his family's logging and timber businesses.Elected...
. Zelaya's private Venezuelan jet was not given landing clearance by the Authorities at Toncontín and the military blocked the single runway with vehicles and troops. The plane was then diverted to ManaguaManaguaManagua is the capital city of Nicaragua as well as the department and municipality by the same name. It is the largest city in Nicaragua in terms of population and geographic size. Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Xolotlán or Lake Managua, the city was declared the national capital in...
, NicaraguaNicaraguaNicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
.
- Due the bombing attempt by Al-QaedaAl-QaedaAl-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
of Northwest Airlines Flight 253Northwest Airlines Flight 253Northwest Airlines Flight 253 was an international passenger flight from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands, to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Romulus, Michigan, United States...
on Christmas Day, December 25, 2009; the security at Toncontín was increased with the use of undercover police officers at the airport.
- On January 27, 2010, Honduran ex-president Manuel ZelayaManuel ZelayaJosé Manuel Zelaya Rosales is a politician who was President of Honduras from January 27, 2006 until June 28, 2009. The eldest son of a wealthy businessman, he inherited his father's nickname "Mel," and, before entering politics, was involved in his family's logging and timber businesses.Elected...
and his family, left the country after 120 days seeking refuge at the BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian Embassy, they left at 14:45 from Toncontín International Airport, to the Dominican RepublicDominican RepublicThe Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
, where Zelaya proposes to hold a trial against the people who ran the 2009 Honduran constitutional crisis2009 Honduran constitutional crisisThe 2009 Honduran constitutional crisis was a political dispute over plans to rewrite the Constitution of Honduras, which culminated in a coup d'état against Honduran President Manuel Zelaya by the Honduran military...
. Thousands of Hondurans were present outside the airport to witness the moment Zelaya left the country.
Accidents and incidents
- 7 June 1962: A Curtiss C-46 Commando, (HR-SAL), a cargo flight operated by SAHSASahsaServicio Aéreo de Honduras SA otherwise known as SAHSA Airlines was the national flag carrier airline of Honduras from October 22, 1945 to January 14, 1994...
, crash-landed at Toncontín when the left undercarriage collapsed on touchdown. Both crew members survived but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
- 30 June 1966: A Douglas DC-6Douglas DC-6The Douglas DC-6 is a piston-powered airliner and transport aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1946 to 1958. Originally intended as a military transport near the end of World War II, it was reworked after the war to compete with the Lockheed Constellation in the long-range...
, (HR-TNG), operated by Transportes Aéreos Nacionales overran the runway on landing and was destroyed by fire.
- 20 February 1967: A Douglas DC-6Douglas DC-6The Douglas DC-6 is a piston-powered airliner and transport aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1946 to 1958. Originally intended as a military transport near the end of World War II, it was reworked after the war to compete with the Lockheed Constellation in the long-range...
, (HR-SAS) operated by SAHSASahsaServicio Aéreo de Honduras SA otherwise known as SAHSA Airlines was the national flag carrier airline of Honduras from October 22, 1945 to January 14, 1994...
overran the runway whilst attempting to land on runway 01 at Toncontín. According to crew reports, the reverse thrust mechanism failed to engage and the crew had to brake hard causing two tires to catch fire. The nose gear overran the runway into a ditch, followed by the left main gear leg. Out of 50 passengers and 5 crew on board, 4 were killed.
- 25 November 1969: A Douglas DC-3Douglas DC-3The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
, (HR-ANA), operated by SAHSASahsaServicio Aéreo de Honduras SA otherwise known as SAHSA Airlines was the national flag carrier airline of Honduras from October 22, 1945 to January 14, 1994...
crashed while attempting to land on runway 01 at Toncontín. A strong wind gust upset the aircraft during flare, which pushed the aircraft towards the terminal buildings. The crew force-turned away from the buildings and crashed. All 15 passengers and 3 crew survived.
- 26 May 1970: A de Havilland HeronDe Havilland HeronThe de Havilland DH.114 Heron was a small, propeller-driven British airliner that first flew on 10 May 1950. It was a development of the twin-engine de Havilland Dove, with a stretched fuselage and two more engines. It was designed as a rugged, conventional low-wing monoplane with tricycle...
operated by Aero Servicios crashed during approach to runway 19, 1.5 km (0.93205910497471 mi) from the runway. The aircraft banked steeply to the left, and crashed in a nearby valley. The cause of the accident was attributed to a stall brought about by turbulent wind conditions at low altitude. 4 passengers and 2 crew were killed.
- 1982: An Aeropostal Douglas DC-9 was hijacked and landed at Toncontín during the night. The kidnappers exchanged the passengers for fuel, leaving them in the terminal. Another DC-9 collected the passengers the next day.
- 25 February 1989: A privately-owned Douglas DC-6Douglas DC-6The Douglas DC-6 is a piston-powered airliner and transport aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1946 to 1958. Originally intended as a military transport near the end of World War II, it was reworked after the war to compete with the Lockheed Constellation in the long-range...
(HR-AKZ) struck a mountain on approach to Toncontín and crashed. All 10 people aboard were killed.
- 21 October 1989: Tan-Sahsa Flight 414Tan-Sahsa Flight 414Tan-Sahsa Flight 414 was a scheduled flight from Managua , Nicaragua to Tegucigalpa , Honduras.In this hull loss accident, a Boeing 727-200 crashed into a hill near Toncontin International Airport because of a bad landing procedure....
, a Boeing 727-200 on approach to runway 01 at Toncontín, crashed into a nearby hill, killing 127 of 146 people aboard. The cause of the crash was attributed to pilot error by disregarding the prescribed approach procedures.
- 1 April 1997: A U.S. Air Force C-130 cargo plane overshot the runway at Toncontín and came to rest on a civilian highway interchange, where it caught fire. The cause of the crash was attributed to excess speed on landing, resulting in a prolonged flare. The aircraft touched down 2000 ft (609.6 m) beyond the runway 02 threshold.
- 30 May 2008: TACA Flight 390TACA Flight 390TACA Flight 390 was a scheduled flight on May 30, 2008, by TACA Airlines from San Salvador, El Salvador, to Miami, Florida, United States, with intermediate stops at Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula in Honduras...
, an Airbus A320Airbus A320The Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001...
, overran the runway after landing on runway 02 at Toncontín. The aircraft plunged 20m down an embankment and came to rest on a road. 3 of the 124 people aboard and 2 people on the ground were killed.
- 14 February 2011: Central American Airways Flight 731Central American Airways Flight 731Central American Airways Flight 731 was a domestic scheduled passenger flight between San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa, Honduras. On February 14, 2011, the Central American Airlines Let L-410 Turbolet, registration HR-AUQ, operating the flight crashed on approach to Toncontín International Airport...
, a Let L-410 Turbolet, crashed on approach to Toncontin 20 km from the airport, in Las Mesitas, Municipio de Santa Ana. All 14 aboard were killed.
See also
- West-Wind (Honduran Presidential Plane)
- Military of HondurasMilitary of Honduras-pre-1979:During the twentieth century, Honduran military leaders frequently became presidents, either through elections or by coups d'état. General Tiburcio Carías Andino was elected in 1932, he later on called a constituent assembly that allowed him to be reelected, and his rule became more...
- List of the busiest airports in Central America