Cargo plane splits in two after crash-landing at Costa Rica airport

The crew alerted local authorities of problems with the hydraulic system

A cargo plane carrying mail and packages broke in two during an emergency landing in Costa Rica on Thursday, causing the temporary closure of the international airport.

Costa Rica's Juan Santamaria International Airport reopened hours after the Boeing 757-200 cargo aircraft operated by German logistics company DHL skidded off the runway, separating its tail, aviation authorities said.

Smoke emerged from the bright yellow plane as it ground to a halt after the pilot requested permission to make an emergency landing shortly after take-off, he said.

The aircraft was bound for Guatemala when its hydraulic system failed, Luis Munoz, deputy director of Costa Rica's civil aviation authority, told Reuters.

DHL said the crew was unharmed but revealed that one member was undergoing a medical review as a precaution.

A Boeing spokeswoman said it would defer questions to investigating authorities.

DHL and airport authorities said they were working together to move the aircraft, although they said it was not affecting operations.

The company's incident response team "has been activated and an investigation will be conducted with the relevant authorities to determine what happened”, DHL said.

Airport operator Aeris said the airport, on the outskirts of capital San Jose, reopened at 3.30pm local time, several hours earlier than expected after the 10am incident.

About 8,500 passengers and 57 commercial and cargo flights were affected by the closure, Aeris said.

Aeris originally estimated the airport would remain closed until 6pm local time, which would have affected three cargo flights and 32 commercial flights to and from the US, Central America, Mexico, Canada and Europe.