Boeing is having a turbulent start to the year.
After the loss of the emergency evacuation door of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-9 on January 5 and the discovery of a crack in the cockpit of an All Nippon Airways Boeing 737-800 On January 13, the American aircraft manufacturer just experienced another problem with one of its aircraft.
A cargo plane chartered by the American company Atlas Air was forced to make an emergency landing at Miami International Airport on Thursday January 18.
A few minutes after takeoff, the Boeing 747-8 suddenly caught fire in mid-flight over the Florida city.
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In images circulating on social networks, we can see sparks and flames springing from the left engine of the Atlas Air plane.
" Oh my God.
He’s on fire, oh my God,” we can hear in the images.
Authorities confirmed the engine caught fire, but said an investigation has yet to determine what caused the incident.
“It’s on fire!”
Boeing 747 cargo jet catches fire shortly after taking off from Miami International Airport.
The pilots safely returned the plane to the airport.
pic.twitter.com/vKjeP6X69f
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) January 19, 2024
Takeoff at 10:32 p.m., landing at 10:46 p.m.
“SOS, SOS, We have an engine on fire.
Request access to the airport.
We're going to land, we have five souls on board,” the pilot on board can be heard saying in audio obtained by NBC Miami.
Fortunately, the aircraft was able to land safely on one of the airport's runways.
Flightaware data shows that the plane took off from Miami Airport at 10:32 p.m. and the pilot made the emergency landing about 15 minutes later, at 10:46 p.m.
According to Flightradar, the plane is eight years old.
The US airline said in a statement that the plane was able to land safely at the airport with no reported injuries.
“The crew followed all standard procedures and returned safely to MIA (Miami International Airport).”
Miami firefighters responded to the scene following the landing and no injuries were reported, the airport said in a statement.