747 catches fire on runway!
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Brings back memories from Mumbai. Just how many firemen can you gather around an Air India 747 # 1 engine?
Looks like burn marks (soot?) on the wing, so no, minor is not the word here. Lucky it didn't happen around V1 or in the air.
Not often we get to see a 747 with the chutes out like this.
Looks like burn marks (soot?) on the wing, so no, minor is not the word here. Lucky it didn't happen around V1 or in the air.
Not often we get to see a 747 with the chutes out like this.
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Runway?
Judging by the image on the link on post #1, if this is indeed a runway, I'm for sure concerned about the Indian standard for straightness 
Either they quickly exited the runway, or it all unfolded while taxing to runway 27.
BF
Either they quickly exited the runway, or it all unfolded while taxing to runway 27.
BF
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I watched it from my cockpit and that video does not do it justice. Before the fire trucks got there the flames were well up above the fuselage. I thought I was about to witness some serious damage for a few seconds. This happened on the taxiway right in front of the firehouse or this might have been worse.
Jet
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Good job by the Mumbai Airport Fire Department
There might have been doubts about the effectiveness of the rescue services in India. I am glad that they have proven in this instance that they are really up to the job. Well done! 
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What phase of flight (operation)??
One or two more pictures and an airport map ought to solve what source to believe.
By now some of the passengers must have gone on TV as well with their opinions.
By now some of the passengers must have gone on TV as well with their opinions.
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Picture of the aircraft afer the fire was extinguished: Photos: Boeing 747-437 Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net
Anders
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Looking at the mobile phone footage, a lot of the fuel appeared to be burning on the ground in a pool under the aircraft.
Is it possible that if the aircraft was airborne at the time the fire started the effects would have been less serious as fuel from the leak would drain away in the airflow, giving the crew time to extinguish the fire before too much damage would be done ??
Is it possible that if the aircraft was airborne at the time the fire started the effects would have been less serious as fuel from the leak would drain away in the airflow, giving the crew time to extinguish the fire before too much damage would be done ??
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Media Barrage
Fire seems to have started at push back. As usual the over zealous, ill informed media has taken a combative stance. The issue now is not that why the fire started, but in pictures it seems slides were deployed on the side of the fire also. This is a safety violation they are screaming. AI in it's defense states the slides on the fire side were deployed at a later time. Media is calling for suspension of the entire crew especially the pilots who in their words deployed the slides from the wrong side 
.
From posts it seems sky jet was on site so some of his descriptions of the evacuation which AI is stating took 30 seconds only.... would offer us a true picture as to what happened and how it unfolded.
So now the issue at hand according to Media is
1) Did the crew violate the evac procedures?
2) Was the fire caused because it is a 14 year old plane
3) Whose head do we get on a stick
Actual question I have is
1) What
2) Why
3) How
4) What can we learn from it?
And oh yes if 213 people got out safely without a burn or a broken bone lets give the crew benefit of doubt
.....
.From posts it seems sky jet was on site so some of his descriptions of the evacuation which AI is stating took 30 seconds
only.... would offer us a true picture as to what happened and how it unfolded.So now the issue at hand according to Media is
1) Did the crew violate the evac procedures?
2) Was the fire caused because it is a 14 year old plane
3) Whose head do we get on a stick
Actual question I have is
1) What
2) Why
3) How
4) What can we learn from it?
And oh yes if 213 people got out safely without a burn or a broken bone lets give the crew benefit of doubt
.....
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I had just blocked in down at the domestic side and was still up on the com radio as we ran the checklist. I heard the follow me truck tell a VT-... aircraft that he had a fuel leak. I did not pay much attention as I thought it was a small GA aircraft on the other side of the field. I then heard the follow me guy state that it was a very large fuel leak and in a rising tone of voice to shut off the engines. Then he began to yell FIRE! FIRE! FIRE!, and I looked out my window to see what appeared to be the whole side of the 747 on fire with flames over the top of the aircraft and a large puddle of fuel on the ground burning. I turned to tell my FO to look and opened the side window to yell down to my ground crew to look over at it. Very soon after the fire trucks arrived and that is about where the video above picks up. I personally thought the fire crew did a great job. The AI crew may have had a few moments of hesitation as I don't think they knew it was them leaking at first. I mean as airline crew we are all used to being addressed by our flight number and not the reg #. All in all it looked like the AI cockpit crew did about as well as could be expected. As to the slides, I was looking from the back and left of the A/C and there was so much smoke and flame I can not really comment on the evac. They did have pax wandering around on the ground, but keeping pax together after leaving an airplane is like hearding cats even under the best of conditions.
Jet
Jet
In general
Fires on the ground threaten the aircraft and its occupants different than fires whilst air borne. Ground fires associated with fuel leaks are aggravated when the aircraft stops and the burning fuel puddles underneath. If the fuel leak can be shut off and the aircraft moved away from the puddle things will get better as long as the cabin is not breeched.
If there is only a fuel leak then the ignition is quite probable when the aircraft stops over the puddle with engines running.
The follow on investigation will likley reveal all the facts in this event so I don't wish to second guess it from just reading the news.
Fires on the ground threaten the aircraft and its occupants different than fires whilst air borne. Ground fires associated with fuel leaks are aggravated when the aircraft stops and the burning fuel puddles underneath. If the fuel leak can be shut off and the aircraft moved away from the puddle things will get better as long as the cabin is not breeched.
If there is only a fuel leak then the ignition is quite probable when the aircraft stops over the puddle with engines running.
The follow on investigation will likley reveal all the facts in this event so I don't wish to second guess it from just reading the news.
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As far as deploying the "wrong" slides go, the general view is that the cabin crew at each door assess the situation at that door and decide to deploy or not - it may be that even with a fire on your side of the aircraft, if the wind is not blowing the fire towards your door it will be best to open the door and speed the evac.
Seems to me a good job done by all here
Seems to me a good job done by all here
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Great job by the fireservices....The proximity of the fire station & taxi path helped.
Looks like a Fuel leak from #1Engine Fuel SOV.
The preliminary report will be out soon.We'll know.
regds
MEL.
Looks like a Fuel leak from #1Engine Fuel SOV.
The preliminary report will be out soon.We'll know.
regds
MEL.