VIDEO: DHL Boeing 757 breaks in two after emergency landing in Costa Rica

A DHL Boeing 757 Freighter went off the runway during an emergency landing at San José Juan Santamaria International Airport, rolled off a slope and broke in two. The accident was filmed by airport staff and airport restaurant guests.

Less than an hour before the accident, the plane had taken off from San Jose airport for a flight to Guatemala City. Due to a technical problem, possibly a failing hydraulic system, the aircraft had to return.

On video footage, at first glance, the landing appears to go smoothly. When braking, things go wrong and near a taxiway the aircraft starts to turn to the right, after which it rolls off the slope at a relatively low speed.

The impact caused a fire and the 22-year-old aircraft was irreparably damaged. The fire brigade, who was already on hand, was quickly on the spot to extinguish the fire. The two pilots, the sole occupants of the aircraft, were uninjured.

San Jose airport was closed immediately after the accident on Thursday afternoon, but has since reopened.