Boeing must show planes are safe after blazing Edinburgh-New York flight forced to land at Prestwick

Investigators have found there was a failure in one of the engines with 211 passengers and 10 crew on board

This was the scene on the right wing of the flight which had to make an emergency landing
Author: Lindsay HerronPublished 18th Jul 2024
Last updated 18th Jul 2024

Boeing must prove to investigators that its planes are safe after a Delta flight from Edinburgh to New York had to make an emergency landing at Prestwick with its wing on fire.

A video from inside the 767 caught bright orange flames burning under the wing of the aircraft with around 211 passengers and ten members of the crew onboard.

During take-off from Edinburgh, an engine failure led to a fuel leak which caused the terrifying blaze in February last year.

A probe by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) found a turbine blade fractured the right engine of the large plane which in turn dealt damaged to a further five blades before fuel escaped from the right wing tank.

It found that the flight crew remained unaware of any flames until after the flight.

An AAIB summary report read: “During take-off from Edinburgh Airport bound for New York, a high-pressure turbine blade fractured in the right engine.

“The blade damaged a further five blades, but the engine was still capable of producing thrust.

“The out of balance turbine caused vibrations sufficient to cause a slat track housing drain tube to fracture in the wing which allowed fuel to escape from the right wing fuel tank.

“Due to the high engine vibration, the flight crew diverted the aircraft to Prestwick Airport.

“During the diversion, fuel escaping from the wing was ignited by the hot engine exhaust, and this was recorded on video by a passenger, but the flames extinguished before the landing.”

The plane landed "promptly", with emergency services waiting. The Scottish Fire and Rescue service put provisions in place to capture fuel coming from the right wing, which stopped it igniting on the hot engine or brakes.

Four fire engines were on the runway at Prestwick Airport to assist. Passengers were "rapidly disembarked", with no injuries.

In January, an emergency exit door blew off a brand-new Boeing 737 Max shortly after take-off from Portland International Airport.

An initial report from the US National Transportation Safety Board concluded that four bolts meant to attach the door securely to the aircraft had not been fitted.

Five years ago, Boeing faced one of the biggest scandals in its history, after two brand new 737 Max planes were lost in almost identical accidents that cost 346 lives.

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