United Airlines 737 Evacuated in Japan After Mid-Air Fire Alert

A United Airlines Boeing 737-800 flying from Tokyo to Cebu, Philippines, made an emergency landing in Japan on Friday, Sept. 12 after receiving an “indication of potential fire in the cargo hold,” the airline said.

United Flight 32 was about an hour into its four-hour journey at 34,000 feet over the Pacific Ocean when it diverted to the northwest, according to FlightRadar24. The aircraft landed safely about 30 minutes later at Kansai International Airport in Osaka.

All 135 passengers evacuated the plane using emergency slides and were bussed to the terminal. Two passengers sustained minor injuries during the evacuation and were taken to a hospital, United said. “Upon initial inspection by maintenance there is no indication a fire occurred,” the airline added.

United operates a hub in Tokyo serving destinations across Asia, including Guam, Mongolia, Saipan, Taiwan and the Philippines. Flight 32 was the continuation of a Los Angeles–Tokyo service, operated on a different, smaller aircraft before connecting to the Boeing 737-800.

While fires aboard commercial aircraft are rare, they can be deadly. The FAA notes that 20% of all fatalities on aircraft between 1891 and 1990 were caused by onboard fires. Boeing advises crews to divert immediately if there is “smoke, fumes or fire” on board, while Airbus has warned that without quick action, a fire may become uncontrollable within 10 minutes.

United said it is cooperating with authorities and conducting a full inspection of the aircraft before returning it to service.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, yahoo.com