Thank God It Happened On The Ground...
BSO: 17 Hurt After Plane Catches Fire at FLL
Posted: Oct 29, 2015 10:44 AM MDT
Updated: Oct 29, 2015 3:02 PM MDT
FORT LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Fla. (WSVN) -- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport was on a ground stop fro almost three hours after a Dynamic Airways plane caught fire on the tarmac, Thursday, leaving 17 hurt, according to Broward Sheriff's Fire Rescue.
As of 3:15 p.m., FLL reopened and the airport will run on one runway as crews continue to investigate. Delays are expected.
Fire rescue officials reported that as many as 17 people were t***sported, including one child and one trauma patient, after the left engine of a Boeing 767 passenger plane caught fire, just after 12:30 p.m. A pilot in another plane reported that he noticed fuel leaking from the engine before it caught fire. Over a communication, he could be heard yelling, "Engine on fire! Engine on fire!"
The most serious injury was a burn injury, said officials, who added that there were two others with less serious injuries, and the rest had bumps, bruises, sprains or were complaining of stress. All were taken to Broward Health Medical Center. "Most of them are musculoskeletal: ankles, knees, elbows," said one doctor. "Now we're starting to see some chest pain and anxiety issues related to the actual accident itself. The injuries themselves seem to be minor. Most of our patients are walking wounded and will be able to be discharged today."
As of 5 p.m., two of the victims were treated and discharged.
According to Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue spokesman Mike Jachles, 101 passengers and crew were onboard the flight. Passengers on a nearby plane on the runway recorded the fire and posted videos to Twitter showing plumes of thick black smoke coming from the plane.
The passenger jet appears to have been taxiing when the engine caught fire. "I'm told one of the engines caught fire as the plane was taxiing, getting ready for departure," said FLL spokesperson Greg Meyer. "I don't know the number of people on board, and I don't know the condition of the people, but I was told the fire was put out by a fire rescue team on site."
One man said he saw the entire ordeal but noted the swift action taken by fire rescue crews. "I've never seen anything like this before," he said. "We're all inside, and we're saying, 'Where's the fire department?" I'll tell ya, once they got there, they doused that plane. Once they got there, they knew what they were doing. It was very orderly, and it looked like they got things under control. We were all worried it was going to explode."
The FAA released a statement that read, "Dynamic International Airways 405 apparently caught fire on Taxiway B while taxiing for departure from Runway 28 Right at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, at about 12:45 p.m. An aircraft taxiing behind the Boeing 767 reported that fuel was leaking from the aircraft before the fire started. Passengers evacuated via slides onto the taxiway."
Dynamic Airways released their own statement that read, "The company is conducting initial investigation and will issue further information once available. Safety of our passengers and crew members is the first priority of Dynamic International Airways. Dynamic International Airways is currently arranging accommodation and t***sportation for all passengers impacted by today's flight disruption."
Three of the four escape chutes deployed from the airplane, so those on board could escape the burning aircraft. It appears everyone who was on board made it off. One person was seen sitting on the tarmac being attended to by good Samaritans and officials.
Later in the afternoon, fire rescue confirmed there were 15 injured. The passengers who were not hurt were placed on a bus on the tarmac and taken to another terminal.
Crews sprayed the left wing of the plane with foam r****dant to ensure that the fire was snuffed out completely before they moved in to investigate. All fire rescue units at the airport responded to the scene.
Runway 28 was the first runway shut down as a result of the fire. Airport traffic had previously continued to operate on a second commercial runway. However, shortly after 1 p.m., airport officials placed a hold on all runway operations while all fire units at the airport focused on this one part of the runway.
According to Meyer, Dynamic is a 5-year-old airline that connects Fort Lauderdale, New York, Venezuela and Guyana. It operates seven 767s. It began chartering flights to Caracas in July, after several other major airlines ended or slashed service to Venezuela over the government's refusal to pay an estimated $4 billion the carriers say they have trapped in the country.
While the airport has reopened, passengers should contact airlines for specific flight information. Connie Stuetzer and Debby Stinebaugh are one of the thousands of people who felt the flight delays firsthand but hope they will soon be able to reach their destination. "I do have a connection so I'm supposed to leave at 4:50 p.m.," said Stuetzer. "I'm leaving at 5:10 p.m., hopefully, but I have a two-hour layover in Atlanta, so hopefully I won't miss my connection there."
"I do want to get home," said Stinebaugh. "I've been down here all week, and I'm supposed to leave again tomorrow morning."
Stay tuned to WSVN 7 News and wsvn.com for updates on this developing story.
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