Passenger Jet Catches Fire at Chicago Airport

VOA News

An American Airlines passenger jet caught fire Friday at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, forcing an emergency evacuation of passengers and resulting in nine injuries.

American Airlines said the Boeing 767 plane was already on the runway, about to depart for Miami, when it experienced an «engine-related mechanical issue» that caused the pilot to abort the takeoff.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the flight crew reported a blown-out tire as the plane was preparing to take off.

Black smoke poured out of the plane, with flames visible underneath the aircraft. The passengers and crew used inflated evacuation slides along the sides of the fuselage to reach safety on the runway.

Officials said the injuries were typical of those associated with evacuating an airliner, including bruises and ankle injuries.

American Airlines said 161 passengers and nine crew members were aboard the plane, and all were evacuated.

The incident forced the closure of at least three of the airport’s runways, according to the city Aviation Department. The National Transportation Safety Board said it would investigate the incident.