Summary
- Unprecedented flooding in Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil shuts down Porto Alegre airport and leaves a Boeing 727 plane, among others, stranded
- Over 500,000 people have been displaced by the floods, and the Porto Alegre airport is temporarily closed until May 30.
- Total Cargo’s rare Boeing 727 fleet is among the few of this type in operation today.
With Brazil’s southernmost state, Rio Grande do Sul, facing one of its worst floods, experts are saying that there’s still some time before the water recedes. Images circulating online show the level of disruption caused by the flood, including at Porto Alegre airport, where, among other aircraft, a Boeing 727 was spotted floating in the floodwaters.
Boeing 727 stranded at airport
While rare, one of the many reasons an aircraft could be stranded at an airport is when it gets flooded. And that is exactly what has happened at the airport in Porto Alegre in Brazil’s southernmost state, Rio Grande do Sul.
Images circulating online show a Total Cargo Boeing 727 plane with its landing gear submerged underwater, highlighting the severity of the situation. Another image shows a person on a boat as he films a bunch of other private jets at the airport premises, while another post shows the before and after picture of the airport with the runway totally underwater.
More than 500,000 people have been displaced by these floods, and over 150 people have lost their lives. Even areas that are not flooded are reporting a loss of electricity and potable water. Many of those displaced are currently stationed at public shelters, and the government is now planning to build four temporary tent cities for their accommodation.
Porto Alegre airport remains closed
Porto Alegre airport is one of Brazil’s top 10 busiest airports, handling around 7.3 million passengers annually. It is still unclear when operations will resume, but according to the NOTAM issued by the airport authorities earlier this month, it will remain shut until May 30. It is operated by Fraport Brasil, a local division of the German airport management company Fraport.
Earlier this month, it said that there is no forecast for the resumption of operations. FlightGlobal quotes its management as saying,
“Our teams are working to implement measures to mitigate the impacts suffered, These actions include co-ordination with the federal government, strengthening security at our facilities and for our employees.”
Increasingly rare aircraft
While partially submerged aircraft underwater is a rare sight, the Boeing 727 at Porto Alegre airport is rarer, as the type is increasingly vanishing from commercial operations. According to Aeroflap, Total Cargo is the only company to operate the type in Brazil.
It has three Boeing 727s in its fleet: PR-TTW (43.56 years), PR-TTP (46.12 years), and PR-TTO (48.01 years). Over the years, these planes have operated for several different airlines, including Northwest Airlines and Republic Airlines, and now fly cargo operations only.
The 727s are among many other trijets that are increasingly disappearing from commercial aviation. In fact, no commercial passenger operator flies these planes. Other trijets that can be seen flying cargo operations include McDonnell Douglas DC-10 and DC-11.
FedEx is the largest operator of trijet aircraft today, with more than 25 MD-11s in active service. These planes can also be seen flying for government, military, and private organizations, such as Force Aérienne de Burkina Faso, Force Aérienne du Congo, Fuerza Aérea Colombiana, Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana, Guardia National, among others.
Related
Which Airlines Still Fly Trijets Today?
FedEx Express is the world’s largest operator of trijet aircraft today, with 29 MD-11s in active service.
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