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AFP
The Boeing 737 skidded into the St John River in Jacksonville
A landing device was "inoperative" on an airliner that slipped out of a runway in the US state of Florida on Friday, investigators said.
The Boeing 737, operated by Miami Air International, was found in a river after landing during a thunderstorm.
According to officials, 21 people were transported to the hospital with minor injuries and at least four animals kept in the hold died.
They are now looking into the failure of the "thrust reverser", as well as a request from the pilot to change track.
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The flight, which had flown from Guantanamo Bay in Cuba to a military base in the city of Jacksonville, would have landed heavily in the storm before sliding into the St John's River.
The 136 passengers and seven crew members on board evacuated the Boeing 737-800 by its wings.
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US Navy via Reuters
None of the 21 people injured sustained serious injuries
"The aircraft was doing maintenance work and the maintenance log indicated that the left thrust reverser was down," said US National Transportation Safety Board Vice President Bruce Landsberg on Sunday.
Mr Landsberg added that shortly before their landing, the pilots had asked to pass on a landing strip equipped with equipment, which left less space available.
"We do not know what they thought or why it was their choice," he said.
He also confirmed that several dogs and cats traveling in crates in the cargo hold were presumed drowned and that the US Navy had arranged for divers to recover their bodies in the aircraft.
Moment & # 39; terrifying & # 39;
A passenger in the plane, Cheryl Bormann, described the "terrifying" moment when he slipped off the runway.
"The plane literally hit the ground and bounced in. It was clear that the pilot did not have total control of the plane, he rebounded again," she said. at CNN.
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US Navy via Getty
The US military has contracted with the airliner to get to Guantanamo Bay
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Document via Reuters
Passengers and crew were assessed in a nearby aircraft hangar.
"We were in the water, we could not know where we were, whether it was a river or an ocean," she said, adding that she could smell the smell fuel escape in the river.
At a press conference, Captain Michael Connor, commander of the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, said it was a "miracle" that there had been no casualties serious or dead.
The US military has entrusted Miami Air International with the bi-monthly "rotator" service between the American continent and Guantanamo Bay, said base spokesman Bill Dougherty.
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Document via Reuters
A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator is seen with a flight data recorder
Officials said Friday's flight passengers included civilian and military personnel.
Boeing issued a statement in which he shares his "wishes" with the people on board.
He said he was providing technical assistance to the National Transportation Safety Board of the United States, which is investigating the incident.
The aerospace giant is subject to increased surveillance as a result of two fatal accidents involving its 737 Max 8 aircraft – a different model than the one involved in the Friday Incident.
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