Update 2017: Turbine rupture caused 2016 Korean Air fire
NHK World has reported the following today:
The Japan Transport Safety Board has determined that a fuel leak in an engine turbine caused the fire that broke out on a Korean Air passenger plane at an airport in Tokyo last year.
The left engine of the Boeing 777 caught fire shortly before takeoff in May of last year. The passenger jet was about to depart Haneda Airport for Seoul.
All passengers and crewmembers evacuated the plane. Nine passengers sustained injuries.
An inspection of the engine by board technical analysts found that the turbine blades were broken.
Further investigations have determined that the engine kept running and prompted abnormal vibrations, which caused three ruptures within the malfunctioning turbine.
One of the ruptures was 34 centimeters long.
Board members say those ruptures caused fuel to leak and spark a fire.
Japan's transport ministry says it has officially categorized the fire as an aviation accident.