Virgin A333 at St. Lucia on Dec 24th 2013, mud landing on runway

A Virgin Atlantic Airbus A330-300, registration G-VNYC performing flight VS-98 from Tobago (Trinidad and Tobago) to Saint Lucia (Saint Lucia), was on final approach to Saint Lucia at about 20:14L (00:14Z Dec 25th) and had just received landing clearance when river Vieux Fort burst its banks and flooded the airport reportedly washing the weather station away and setting the runway under water. The aircraft touched down on the flooded runway without warning and managed to come to a stop. No injuries occurred, the landing gear however received substantial damage.

The onward flight to London Gatwick,EN (UK) had to be cancelled.

Due to the flooding the airport needed to close for the rest of Dec 24th and Dec 25th but pledged to reopen on Dec 26th. The airport is NOTAMed open on Dec 26th however no jet fuel being available until Dec 27th, locals report the airport is still closed on Dec 26th.

The airport's weather station stopped transmitting Metars after Dec 24th 20:26Z and resumed service on Dec 25th at 22:00Z.

Local Media report 8 fatalities and describe catastrophic devastation all around Saint Lucia as result of the heavy rainfalls (more than 171mm/6.7 inches of rain in 24 hours), flooding and landslides on Holy Eve, emergency supplies had to be brought in from around the Caribbean Island.

Travellers caught at St. Lucia complained about not being able to depart but also tweeted whether reports of the crash of a Virgin Atlantic Aircraft at Saint Lucia as reported by local media were true.

The accident aircraft is still on the ground in St. Lucia.

On Dec 26th regular flight VS-89 from London to St. Lucia and further to St. George's (Grenada) flew directly to Grenada and did not land in St. Lucia.

Metars:

TLPL 242026Z 10018KT 3000 -TSRA FEW007 SCT010CB BKN015 26/24 Q1010

TLPL 241900Z 10019KT 9999 -SHRA BKN020 BKN040 27/24 Q1011 TEMPO SHRA

TLPL 241800Z 10018KT 9999 -SHRA FEW019TCU SCT023 BKN042 27/24 Q1011 TEMPO SHRA

TLPL 241800Z 10018KT 9999 -SHRA FEW019TCU SCT023 BKN042 27/24 Q 1011 TEMPO SHRA

TLPL 241700Z 11016KT 9999 BKN023 29/24 Q1012 TEMPO SHRA

TLPL 241600Z 12017KT 9999 FEW018CB SCT022 BKN039 29/25 Q1013 TEMPO SHRA

TLPL 241500Z 12014KT 9999 -SHRA FEW016TCU BKN022 27/25 Q1014 TEMPO SHRA

TLPL 241500Z 12014KT 9999 -SHRA FEW016TCU BKN022 27/25 Q1014 TE MPO SHRA

TLPL 241400Z 11010KT 9999 -SHRA FEW016TCU SCT022 28/25 Q1014 TEMPO SHRA

TLPL 241400Z 11010KT 9999 -SHRA FEW016TCU SCT022 28/25 Q1014 TE MPO SHRA

TLPL 241300Z 10011KT 9999 FEW010 FEW016TCU SCT039 27/24 Q1014 TEMPO SHRA