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Posted: 08
February 2006, 5:50pm ET (2150 GMT) |
UPS jet makes fiery emergency landing in
Philadelphia.
Louisville Courier-Journal |
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| The burned out wreckage of a UPS DC-8 cargo plane is seen in this February 8, 2006 photo. (Paul Kanagie/View Full Size) |
A UPS cargo plane with flames shooting from the back made
an emergency landing in Philadelphia early Wednesday in time for the pilot
and two crew members to jump to safety on the runway.
The airline said it wouldn’t speculate on the cause of the fire. UPS
spokesman Mark Giuffre said the National Transportation Safety Board was
investigating.
Louisville International Airport is the home of UPS’ Worldport air cargo
hub. UPS officials said they could not release the names of the pilot and
crew members or where they are based at this point in the NTSB’s
investigation.
Emergency crews surrounded the DC-8, which the company identified as UPS
Flight 1307, when it touched down at Philadelphia International Airport shortly
after midnight on a flight from Atlanta.
Firefighters said the blaze was under control about four hours later. Holes
were visible in the airplane’s skin along the top of the
fuselage.
“It would be premature to discuss the cause of this incident,”
said Bob Lekites, UPS’ airline & international operations manager.
“An investigation is being conducted by the NTSB, and UPS will cooperate
fully in that investigation. We cannot speculate about what may have been
the cause.”
The airport canceled most flights during the night, mostly cargo flights,
airport spokesman Mark Pesce said. Airport operations were “almost business
as usual” by 9 a.m., Pesce said.
The pilot and two crew members were examined for smoke inhalation and
released.
Giuffre said UPS must wait until the completion of the NTSB investigation
before checking on the condition of the packages.
NTSB spokeswoman Lauren Peduzzi said agency investigators likely would be
at the airport for several days. It can take a year or longer for the NTSB
to report on its findings. |
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