Description
Marechal Cunha Machado International Airport, formerly called Tirirical Airport, is the airport serving São Luís, Brazil. Since 17 October 1985 the airport is named after Marechal Cunha Machado.It is operated by Infraero.HistoryIn 1942, a grass track measuring one thousand meters, which served the airbase of the Brazilian Army, was the only way that São Luís had to receive flights. Runway 06/24 was built as part of the US base which began operating in 1943. In 1974, the Air Ministry transferred to Infraero technical jurisdiction, administrative and operational airport. The current passenger terminal of Airport Marechal Cunha Machado opened in June 1998 The name of the airport is a tribute to the Air Marshall and Captain Lieutenant Commander Hugo da Cunha Machado, born in Maranhão. In October 2004 it was upgraded to international category.Abandoned Aircraft 3 Boeing B727-100 VASPAccidents and incidentsAccidents1 June 1973: a Cruzeiro do Sul Sud Aviation SE-210 Caravelle VI N registration PP-PDX operating flight 109 from Belém-Val de Cans to São Luís crashed on approach to São Luís. Engine no.1 lost power and the aircraft attained an extreme nose-up attitude. It stalled and crashed 760m to the right of the runway. All 23 passengers and crew died.Incidents3 February 1984: a Cruzeiro do Sul Airbus A300B4-203 operating flight 302 en route from São Luís to Belém-Val de Cães with 176 passengers and crew aboard was hijacked by 3 persons who demanded to be taken to Cuba. The flight reached Camagüey in less than a day. There were no victims.
