Video: Cargo Catches Fire While Being Loaded Onto American 777-300ER At Hong Kong Airport

Video: Cargo Catches Fire While Being Loaded Onto American 777-300ER At Hong Kong Airport

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This certainly looks like it could have ended a lot worse. A fire broke out today at Hong Kong International Airport while a cargo container was being loaded onto an American Airlines 777-300ER bound for Los Angeles. Here’s video footage of the incident:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGzW4aL-lkY

Follow this link if you want to see a longer video of the incident that’s taken from the ramp.

Amazingly enough, it looks like damage to the actual plane was minimal, despite how close the cargo was to the plane.

However, AA192 from Hong Kong to Los Angeles was still canceled, as presumably they’re going to inspect the plane to make sure it’s safe to fly. Hopefully everything is fine and the plane is back in service soon, as American doesn’t have many spare 777-300ERs.

Thank goodness this happened on the ground while it was being loaded into the plane, and not in the air. This must have been terrifying to see.

(Tip of the hat to The Unaccompanied Flyer)

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  1. Vinod Mirchandani Guest

    If you read the comments properly you will note that it was not the cargo that had a problem but the equipment that was loading the cargo into the plane. Please stop blaming Hong Kong authorities about not inspecting cargo properly etc.

  2. erick schmitt Guest

    Also, having a radiating source of heat so close to a fuselage... I would definitely want a plane to be inspected and checked for any melted / deformed / damaged parts!

  3. erick schmitt Guest

    Hopefully the airline and cargo agents fully scrutinize the source of this shipment and quickly clamps down on what contents / shipper was violating what rules!

  4. Hal Guest

    Damn, there goes my new iPhone...

  5. p Guest

    Adil: you must be a lot of fun at parties.

  6. Adil Guest

    @p I think AdamW meant this...
    lax: not sufficiently strict, severe, or careful.
    "lax security arrangements at the airport"
    synonyms: slack, slipshod, negligent, remiss, careless, heedless, unmindful, slapdash, offhand, casual.

  7. AlexD Guest

    If it's true what American says, that the cause for the fire lies with the machine loading the cargo, then at least it'll take worry about items being not screen to the highest standard. (yes I know, many of you will say the standards are low etc., but that's not my point here)

    I mentioned earlier, no one got hurt. Now they are reporting that one employee sustained non life threatening injuries. Hope it will...

    If it's true what American says, that the cause for the fire lies with the machine loading the cargo, then at least it'll take worry about items being not screen to the highest standard. (yes I know, many of you will say the standards are low etc., but that's not my point here)

    I mentioned earlier, no one got hurt. Now they are reporting that one employee sustained non life threatening injuries. Hope it will stay like this-no further injuries, and the person has a speedy recovery.

  8. p Guest

    AdamW: But this was at HKG, not LAX ;)

  9. KM Member

    Man - I read the title of this article and knew right away it must be those Hong Kongese.... :P

  10. JP Guest

    If this had gone off with that intensity after take off, this could have been fatal....time understand the issue, to dump, to get back on the RW.......

  11. rqd New Member

    According to AA, it started on the loading equipment and spread to the cargo:

    A spokesman for American Airlines said: "An external piece of loading equipment had a mechanical issue and caught fire while preparing to put cargo in the hold of American Airlines flight 192 from Hong Kong (HKG) to Los Angeles (LAX).

    Big difference.

  12. AlexD Guest

    So glad all pax and staff are unharmed! Now what's more interesting - what caused the cargo flame up... ?

  13. R B Guest

    Correction: "no complaint"

  14. R B Guest

    Hey Lucky,
    I was scheduled to board that flight.
    It happened while we ("Premium passengers") were about to board. The staff had even checked my BP and passport when we saw smoke coming from behind the engine.
    Really scary. Glad firemen and staff put out the fire quickly.
    Read that 1 person (staff) was injured, my thoughts go out to him/her.

    Rebooked onto CX880 in J, and spending my time at "The Pier", so complaint.

  15. AdamW Member

    It's only a matter of time before lax cargo screening causes the next major air disaster!

  16. Cargo Guest

    Wow. That must be some undeclared flammable goods loaded onto this plane.

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The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered.

Vinod Mirchandani Guest

If you read the comments properly you will note that it was not the cargo that had a problem but the equipment that was loading the cargo into the plane. Please stop blaming Hong Kong authorities about not inspecting cargo properly etc.

0
erick schmitt Guest

Also, having a radiating source of heat so close to a fuselage... I would definitely want a plane to be inspected and checked for any melted / deformed / damaged parts!

0
erick schmitt Guest

Hopefully the airline and cargo agents fully scrutinize the source of this shipment and quickly clamps down on what contents / shipper was violating what rules!

0
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