BA 777 on fire at LAS

[jb747]

Do F passengers get nicer wet suits?

Dry suits...

 

[docjames]

Water landing on departure from LAS would be an impressive outcome. I guess Hoover Dam isn't that far......



In a fire, decent clothes may reduce some injuries. Water "landing", the clothing worn is the least of the issues.....

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I welcome governments to issue ridiculously high fines (>$500K+) per bag to people who attempt to take any type of baggage with them in an emergency situation.
Judging by the videos today... it would earn them a fortune too!

Unfortunate as it seems - reading a bit more it appears some passengers in the Asiana crash at SFO took cabin bags. So even in that extreme crash environment it is probably the norm rather than the exception (that some passengers will, for whatever reason, take their belongings).

There has been discussion about auto-locks on overhead bins, but the potential downside on that is that it may delay an evacuation even further as passengers struggle to open the lockers not realising they are locked.

Another solution is to mandate evacuation requirements to take into account that some passengers will carry bags. What might that mean? possibly more exits, or wider aisles (no 10 across seating on a 777!). That would come at extra cost.

You could ban cabin baggage.

Or strengthen safety briefings to try an minimise the number of passengers taking bags and try and reduce it from current levels (but accepting you'll probably never stop it).

 

[jb747]

American 767 Uncontained Engine Failure | Jetcareers

Pictures: GE investigates cuase of AA 767 uncontained failure

These posts and images refer to a 767 event that happened at LA a few years ago. The aircraft was being ground run at high power, which is little different to the initial phase of a take off roll. It gives a good idea of the damage such an event can inflict. In particular, note that the left engine failed, but the right was impacted by debris.

Food for thought, but in the 767 case the entire thing may have caused less damage airborne, as the debris would not have been able to bounce off the tarmac.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Absolutely brilliant job done by the BA crew and the staff at LAS. Looked like a very quick evacuation and response to me.
Nigel the pilot seemed perfect in every sense, exactly what you need when a crisis arises and cool heads prevail.

FWIW I'm in the change into PJ's on boarding brigade as some of you on here may well know

I'd have to remove my footwear to use an evacuation slide though

After this incident I'm going to look into having my passport and wallet in a pouch instead of loose in my cabin holder/pocket things.

 

[Captain Halliday]

American 767 Uncontained Engine Failure | Jetcareers

Pictures: GE investigates cuase of AA 767 uncontained failure

These posts and images refer to a 767 event that happened at LA a few years ago. The aircraft was being ground run at high power, which is little different to the initial phase of a take off roll. It gives a good idea of the damage such an event can inflict. In particular, note that the left engine failed, but the right was impacted by debris.

Food for thought, but in the 767 case the entire thing may have caused less damage airborne, as the debris would not have been able to bounce off the tarmac.

JB, looking at those pics, am I right in thinking the HPT disk fragment that can be seen is protruding from #2 engine? Did it separate from the left, bounce off the bitumen and lodge in the right?

 

[jb747]

JB, looking at those pics, am I right in thinking the HPT disk fragment that can be seen is protruding from #2 engine? Did it separate from the left, bounce off the bitumen and lodge in the right?

Yes. There's a report somewhere on the net, but from what I recall, one fragment went straight through the fuselage, whilst another hit the ground, and bounced back up to impact both fuselage and other engine (or something like that).

 

[moa999]

An interesting comment from the thread with the close up pics. Obviously a lot of speculation but an interesting thesis

That was an uncontained engine failure.

Fuel tanks ruptured by engine debris. After stopping burning fuel (ignited by hot debris) pools under the A/C.

If that would have happened at higher speed or in the air there would have been a lot less damage. The fuel is carried away in the airstream and is not ignited. When the A/C returns after 30+ minutes everything is cold and no fire. Same as with QF A380 in Singapore.

I never heard of an in flight fire due to an uncontained engine failure.

 

[jb747]

It's not impossible, but as you say, it's speculation. I'd rather not be the one to test it.

 

[Flying Fox]

Amazing and glad everyone got off OK.

My input/questions-

1. This is the reason why I don't change into PJs until after takeoff.

2. I'm guessing that the aircraft is a write-off?

3. Amazing that the fire crews got as much foam onto the fire as quickly as they did!

4. Do the cabin crew direct passengers as to which direction to run once people are on the ground or is it a free for all? I only ask because there are lots of dangers around when running away from the aircraft.

5. When this occurred does ATC or whoever stop all aircraft ground movements?

6. What does ATC do with aircraft already on approach to landing and aircraft already rolling down the runway for takeoff?

Thanks in advance.

 

[moa999]

Some first hand journalism

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/...oke-the-smell-was-bitter-it-was-time-to-panic

 

[JohnM]

Some first hand journalism

British Airways fire: 'We saw the smoke. The smell was bitter. It was time to panic' | US news | The Guardian

Last sentence of third paragraph says it all.

 

[Hvr]

And now a little bit about the pilot:

The captain of a British Airways jet that was forced to abandon its takeoff from Las Vegas after an engine burst into flames is a veteran pilot who was due to retire next week.

The pilot – identified by the Guardian as Chris Henkey, 63, from near Reading, Berkshire – was applauded by passengers for averting a potential disaster on the stricken Boeing 777-200 at McCarran international airport.

Age and experience once again proves its worth.

 

[RooFlyer]

<snip>
There was a story about a FA at a door during the final evacuation of QF32; he grabbed a bag that a pax was carrying and disposed of it with extreme prejudice. Apocryphal?

I expect so. QF32 didn't evacuate. They disembarked via stairs....

Sorry, my bad choice of words.

In RDC's book, without trying to find the specific passage on my Kindle right now, IIRC it said that pax were told to leave all personal items on board, even though they were exiting via stairs. It stated that the pax carrying the item was challenged at the door by the CSM; the pax retorted 'what are you going to do about it?' So the CSM took it and turfed it across the cabin.

Yep, that's what I was thinking of!

 

[RooFlyer]

Check it out: (at least) 2 passengers each carrying TWO sets of carry-ons!

 

[russ]

Age and experience once again proves its worth.

I don't see it as proof of that at all. Are you seriously saying that a younger less experienced pilot would not have handled the situation as well?

 

[snabbu]

Even more interesting. The audio. Nigel is very cool.

https://clyp.it/jrvdzhrw

That is truly amazing and why I always feel so calm and relaxed when traveling.
The fact the people in charge of my safety are so professional mostly goes unnoticed until something like this happens, we then are able to really see how well we are taken care of.

Bravo.

 

[Meggsy]

Amazing and glad everyone got off OK.

My input/questions-

1. This is the reason why I don't change into PJs until after takeoff.

2. I'm guessing that the aircraft is a write-off?

3. Amazing that the fire crews got as much foam onto the fire as quickly as they did!

4. Do the cabin crew direct passengers as to which direction to run once people are on the ground or is it a free for all? I only ask because there are lots of dangers around when running away from the aircraft.

5. When this occurred does ATC or whoever stop all aircraft ground movements?

6. What does ATC do with aircraft already on approach to landing and aircraft already rolling down the runway for takeoff?

Thanks in advance.

1. Totally agree, also add my shoes stay on until seat belt sign is off.
2. Quite likely but QF 32 shows what can be done if they have the will.
3. Not really surprising. ARFF vehicles have an amazing output capability from mulitple outlets. They can generally deliver their whole tank in less than two minutes.
4. They direct PAX to move away from the aircraft. Human nature takes over then.
5. Typically ATC stop all movements on the ground immediately to allow for ARFF movements, emergency services,etc to get to the scene as rapidly as possible.
6. Dependent on the phase of flight and runways used they will be directed to go around and hold somewhere. If an airport has multiple runways then alternate or parallel runways may still be used, I.e. At Changi while QF 32 was occurring the other runway was still in full use with another dedicated ARFF service allocated to that runway.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I thought I read they only closed one of the four runways at LAS

 

[TonyHancock]

Some first hand journalism

British Airways fire: 'We saw the smoke. The smell was bitter. It was time to panic' | US news | The Guardian

I must be doing something wrong because I can't find seat 24H on any of the BA seat maps. I was trying to get a mental picture of his surroundings. :?: