Truck Driver Killed When French Jet Skids Off Runway

A jetliner skidded off the runway during takeoff from the Pau airport on Thursday and hit a truck, killing the vehicle's driver, authorities said.

None of the 50 passengers and four crew members aboard the medium size Fokker-100 jetliner was injured in the accident.

Transport Minister Dominique Perben ordered an immediate investigation to determine the cause of the accident. But a ministry statement, citing witness accounts, said the 100-seat jet, in "takeoff phase," was forced to make an urgent landing after birds were sucked into one of its engines. The plane then hit a small truck on a road ringing the airport in southwest France.

The aircraft, which belonged to Regional, an Air France subsidiary, was preparing to fly from Pau to Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport when the accident occurred.

News stories provided by third parties are not edited by "Site Publication" staff. For suggestions and comments, please click the Contact link at the bottom of this page.