Airline Spokesman: Passengers Mistakenly Evacuated From Tampa Flight

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Mar 15, 2000 - 05:52 PM

Airline Spokesman: Passengers Mistakenly Evacuated From Tampa Flight

The Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - A US Airways crew member who mistook an engine backfire for a blaze Wednesday set in motion an evacuation of the plane, in which one woman suffered minor injuries.

There was no fire in the engine of the Boeing 737 leaving Tampa for Pittsburgh shortly before 7 a.m. EST, but 13 people slid down an evacuation chute. The plane was backing out of the gate when the crew member and several passengers saw the backfire.

The crew halted the evacuation and brought the jet back to the gate when the captain intervened.

Tampa airport spokeswoman Brenda Geoghagen said a woman sliding down the ramp suffered scrapes on her knees and above her left eye when she landed on the tarmac. The woman was holding a baby, but the child was not hurt.

Christine Vandevort, a Pennsylvania resident, was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital where she was treated and released. The remaining passengers were placed on a flight leaving before noon, and departed without incident.

Geoghegan said the plane was towed to a corner of the runway, where mechanics were inspecting it.

US Airways spokesman Rick Weintraub said the flash crew members and passengers saw is more complicated than a backfire in a car's engine, but said no one was in any danger.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/florida/MGIUU7BJV5C.html

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), March 16, 2000

Answers

US Airways airplane evacuated; one hurt

By Michael Hasch TRIBUNE-REVIEW

A US Airways passenger suffered minor injuries Wednesday morning during an emergency evacuation from a plane after a ball of fire shot from one of the jet engines prior to takeoff from Florida.

There was no fire, and the evacuation was halted after 13 of the plane's 85 passengers slid down emergency chutes, US Airways spokesman David Castelveter said.

The incident occurred about 6:30 a.m. at Tampa International Airport as a US Airways Boeing 737 jet prepared for takeoff to Pittsburgh, Castelveter said.

The pilot had backed the plane away from the gate and was on the taxiway to prepare for takeoff when there was something similar to a backfire in the jet's right-wing engine, Castelveter said.

"The flight crew saw the burst of flame and the smoke trail, and immediately deployed the emergency evacuation chutes," Castelveter said.

One woman passenger suffered bruises and abrasions either as she slid down the chute or hit the runway. She was treated and released from a Tampa-area hospital.

"The flight crew quickly determined there was no emergency and stopped the evacuation," said Castelveter.

The plane then was brought back to the gate. The remaining passengers departed through the gateway, as well as two pilots and three flight crew attendants.

Passengers were placed on other flights, and the jet was inspected by mechanics who found no problem.

Castelveter, who explained that backfire-like incidents such as yesterday's are relatively common, said the plane was scheduled to be back in service last night.

http://triblive.com/news/rusa0316.html

-- (Dee360Degree@aol.com), March 16, 2000.


A jet engine chug (backfire) can be indication of a potentially dangerous engine FOD (Foreign Object Damage) condition to the turbine section of the engine. It is possible that people were in danger. I think it is an understatement to compare it in any fashion to an automotive engine backfire.

-- Phil Maley (maley@cnw.com), March 18, 2000.

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