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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
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Jet Catches Fire in Japan; Passengers, Crew Escape

Plane's engine exploded; cause unknown

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(Newser) – A jet burst into flames after landing in Okinawa today, moments after all 165 people onboard escaped. The China Airlines plane skidded while landing on arrival from Taipei, and its left engine exploded shortly afterward. The cause of the fire is unknown, the AP reports. Firefighters took an hour to put out the blaze, leaving a blackened hulk.

The 157 passengers and eight crew members evacuated the Boeing 737-800 on emergency slides. Taiwanese authorities immediately grounded China Airlines' 13 other 737-800s. The incident is a blow to the Taiwanese carrier, which had been improving its safety record. A China Airlines 747 crashed in 2002, killing 225, and about 450 died in accidents during the 1990s.

A China Airlines Boeing 737-800 explodes into flames at Naha Airport, Okinawa Prefecture (state), southern Japan, after arriving from Taiwan on Monday, Aug. 20, 2007. All 165 people aboard escaped alive, officials said and police said terrorism was not suspected. This photo was provided to Kyodo News from a person...
A China Airlines Boeing 737-800 explodes into flames at Naha Airport, Okinawa Prefecture (state), southern Japan, after arriving from Taiwan on Monday, Aug. 20, 2007. All 165 people aboard escaped alive,...   (Associated Press)
Firefighters and fire engines surround a destroyed China Airlines plane at Naha Airport in Okinawa Monday, August 20, 2007. The China Airlines jet exploded into flames at an airport in Okinawa after arriving from Taiwan on Monday, but all 165 people aboard escaped alive, officials said. Police said terrorism was...
Firefighters and fire engines surround a destroyed China Airlines plane at Naha Airport in Okinawa Monday, August 20, 2007. The China Airlines jet exploded into flames at an airport in Okinawa after arriving...   (Associated Press)
A China Airlines Boeing 737-800 is sprayed with extinguisher foam after it exploded into flames at Naha Airport, Okinawa Prefecture (state), southern Japan, after arriving from Taiwan on Monday, Aug. 20, 2007. All 165 people aboard escaped alive, officials said and police said terrorism was not suspected. This photo was...
A China Airlines Boeing 737-800 is sprayed with extinguisher foam after it exploded into flames at Naha Airport, Okinawa Prefecture (state), southern Japan, after arriving from Taiwan on Monday, Aug....   (Associated Press)
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Plane catches fire at Japan Naha-airport - August 19, 2007   (cyude (YouTube))

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