China airliner on fire at Japan airport

Quote:

---

China airliner on fire at Japan airport

Firefighters apply foam to Boeing 737 burning at Okinawa Airport

TOKYO - A plane belonging to Taiwan's China Airlines Ltd. caught fire at an airport on Japan's southern island of Okinawa on Monday, Japanese media said.

The Boeing 737 passenger plane had flown from Taipei to Naha, Okinawa's capital, with 155 passengers on board, public broadcaster NHK said.

But it said the passengers and pilot had escaped the blaze. Kyodo news agency reported there had been no injuries.

---

It was a 738. Now it is toast. Apparently the jet was at a hardstand after landing and all 155 passengers and crew had deplaned, however one report says 4 crew are missing. Hopefully not true.

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/2007/08/2...0000071002.jpg

Also, raw footage from Japanese TV: http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=4551

http://youtube.com/watch?v=TS7nHzYNH-o

http://youtube.com/watch?v=zW-2cyZCvqA

Wow. That thing melted. Glad everyone got out ok. Good news.

Actually one of the nicer paint schemes I've seen on a 738. This copy was about 5 years old.

Any word on cause? TV news said an 'engine exploded' but we all know TV coverage of aviation is less than well-informed.

The said some ramp workers saw fuel leaking from the plane before it burst into flames.

Heard several reports of something exploding after the left engine caught fire. center fuel tank would be mostly empty at that point after a short flight. That would seem like the reason for an explosion but at this point it's all just speculation. I saw an internal Boeing email suggesting a fuel leak of some sort is being looked into.

According to a press report from a German news agency, "all 15 Boeing 737-800s in Taiwan, including 12 belonging to China Airlines and a plane used by Taiwan's president, would be grounded for special checks that would include examination of the engines, fuel systems, wings, pumps and fuel ducts"