Mérida-Bound Flight From Miami Makes Emergency Landing In Cuba
A Viva Aerobus flight from Miami to Mérida was forced to divert to Havana on Tuesday after experiencing engine troubles over the Caribbean, leaving passengers stranded for hours.
Viva Aerobus flight VB755 was diverted to the nearest safe airport following the incident, according to reports from Mexican media outlets Reforma and El Mañana.
The twin-engine Airbus A321, which carried 215 passengers, was piloted by Captain Roger Alonso Castillo Rivas, who managed to land successfully despite operating with only one engine in operation.
Passengers took to social media to express frustration over the lack of communication and assistance after one prominent passenger, Yucatecan entrepreneur Ricardo Pérez Solís, shared on social media that passengers endured heat, hunger, and anxiety during the prolonged wait with minimal information.
In response to mounting complaints online, Viva Aerobus announced that a replacement aircraft was en route to Havana to complete the journey to Mérida. They promised that refreshments would be provided for the inconvenienced travelers.
Last Farewells
Another passenger, Emanuel Vilchis, described the severity of the situation, stating that the emergency landing was executed using only one engine. The experience was so alarming that he reportedly sent farewell messages to his family before landing.
Viva Aerobus has not released an official statement detailing the exact cause of the engine failure or the specific measures taken following the incident. Aviation authorities and the airline are expected to launch an investigation to determine what happened on the Miami to Mérida flight and implement safety protocols for future flights.
Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V., now trading simply as Viva (formerly Viva Aerobus), is a major Mexican low-cost airline headquartered at Monterrey International Airport in Apodaca, Nuevo Leon. It ranks as Mexico’s third-largest airline and the eleventh-largest in North America, with over 160 routes serving more than 50 destinations across Mexico, the United States, and Central and South America.
The administration of Mérida International Airport reported that a plane was sent from Monterrey, Nuevo León, to bring the stranded passengers to their intended destination.
The airline is fully owned by IAMSA, Mexico’s largest bus company group, and was co-founded with investment from Irelandia Aviation.
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