AeroUnion A300F crashes onto Monterrey roadway, killing six

An AeroUnion A300B4-200 freighter crashed on approach to Monterrey at around 11 p.m. local time Tuesday, hitting a roadway leading to the airport and striking a car, killing all five crew and a motorist on the ground.

Flight 302 operated by the Mexico City-based cargo carrier was en route to Los Angeles via MTY after originating at MEX. According to the Aviation Safety Network, it had been cleared to land but came down about 2 km. short of the runway threshold and "burst into flames."

Rain showers and intra-cloud lightning were reported in the area at the time of the crash. Wind was at 12 kt. with visibility at 3 mi., ASN reported. Mexican Civil Aviation Director Hector Gonzalez said on television network Televisa that there were "no reports of mechanical issues" with the aircraft or anything else "abnormal."

According to its website, AeroUnion operated a fleet of three A300B4-200Fs prior to the crash. It transports cargo within Mexico and between Mexico and two US destinations, LAX and Chicago O'Hare.

The Associated Press reported that wreckage was spread in a radius of 50 m., with the A300's nose and wings separated from the fuselage and lying in the middle of the roadway. According to ASN, the destroyed aircraft's first flight occurred in April 1979. It was powered by two CF6-50C2s. AeroUnion launched services in May 2001 and this was its first major accident.