Relax - Plane from S'pore catches fire just before landing

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[top: File photo of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 737 aircraft]

GEORGE TOWN, MALAYSIA - A Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Boeing 737 from Singapore safely landed at the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas on Thursday afternoon after the Captain shut down one engine as a precautionary measure.

Flight MH674 departed Singapore at 11.05am and was scheduled to arrive in Penang at 12.25pm. During its approach into Penang, the captain noted that the right engine was vibrating, MAS said in a statement.

“Following standard operating procedures, a precautionary shut down of the engine was carried out and the captain landed the plane safely at 12.26pm.

“The plane landed safely. All 88 passengers and seven crew members are safe.

“At no time was the safety of the flight in jeopardy,” said MAS senior general manager of flight operations, Datuk Capt. Ahmad Zuraidi Dahalan.

Passengers had earlier feared that the plane had caught fire when they heard a series of loud noises and flames on the right side of the plane.

“In this situation, when the engine is shut down, the residual fuel left will be burnt off at the exhaust section of the engine. This can be visibly seen as flashes.

"This is normal. These flashes will dissipate once all the residual fuel burns off.

"The plane is perfectly safe, capable and certified fit to fly in this condition," Capt Ahmad Zuraidi said.

Investigations into the cause of the incident are currently underway.

Penang International Airport senior manager Abdul Wahab Mohd Yusof said the runway was closed for 20 minutes during which the plane was towed to the bay.

“The runway reopened at 12.50pm and no injuries were reported,” he said.

Plane from S'pore catches fire just before landing

By Andrea Filmer, The Star/ANN | Thu, Mar 25 2010

Series of small explosions heard from the right side of the MAS aircraft during its descent in Penang.

Plane from S'pore catches fire just before landing

Keywords

southeast asia
malaysia
airlines & airports