Vic: Cause of Emirates engine blast could be known in days

AAP General News (Australia)
02-01-2001
Vic: Cause of Emirates engine blast could be known in days

Air safety investigators could know within days what caused a passenger aircraft's
engine to explode just seconds before take-off in Melbourne.

The Emirates Airlines Boeing 777-300 jet was travelling down the runway at about 90km/h
when the explosion occurred about 9pm on Tuesday.

Initial investigations suggest the incident could have been caused by a faulty engine
fan blade breaking-off at high speed.

An Emirates spokesman says the cause of the damage could be confirmed in the next few days.

But the Australian Transport Safety Bureau says it cannot determine the cause until
it has completed a thorough investigation.

An ATSB spokesman says the investigation has been given top priority, although a strict
timetable for the probe could not be set.



Frightened passengers among the 213 people on board said they heard a bang and saw
flames and smoke coming from the engine when the incident occurred.

No one was injured in the incident, and all passengers were returned to the Melbourne
Airport terminal.

AAP bp/psm/ a

KEYWORD: AIRCRAFT SMOKE (MELBOURNE)

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