Boeing 747 emergency landing in Miami amid flames, FAA investigates

Saturday, January 20, 2024

Boeing 747 makes emergency landing in Miami after engine issue causes visible flames; FAA and NTSB investigate the incident.

On Thursday evening, a 747 freight aircraft operated by Boeing made an unscheduled landing in Miami due to an engine issue that caused visible flames in the sky.

The incident is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration, which is already examining Boeing following a recent situation involving an Alaska Airlines flight. That flight had to land urgently earlier this month when part of the aircraft’s exterior became detached during the flight. The FAA announced on Friday its intention to investigate the recent situation involving an Atlas Air service.

The airlines said in a statement that Flight 5Y095, headed for Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport in Puerto Rico, “landed safely after experiencing an engine malfunction soon after departure from Miami International Airport.”

“The crew followed all standard procedures and safely returned to MIA. At Atlas, safety is always our top priority and we will be conducting a thorough inspection to determine the cause,” Atlas Air said.

The aircraft departed at 10:22 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday and made its return to Miami at 10:30 p.m., as per the FAA’s records.

An initial investigation into the Atlas Air aircraft by a knowledgeable source, as reported to NBC News on Friday, revealed significant damage to the engine, including a hole about the size of a softball.

Late on Thursday, a Miami local shared a cellphone video on Instagram capturing the aircraft in the sky with what seemed to be fiery emissions trailing it.

Local resident Melanie Adaros, who was near Miami Executive Airport with her mother, witnessed the aircraft’s flight.

Atlas Air, known for transporting a range of cargo from perishable goods to heavy machinery, also coordinates passenger charters for high-profile individuals, as detailed on its website.

This event is another addition to Boeing’s recent series of challenges. This incident follows the emergency landing of an Alaska Airlines flight two weeks prior, leading the FAA to temporarily ground Boeing 737 Max 9 planes nationwide. This decision disrupted air travel and resulted in many flight cancellations.

As of Wednesday, the FAA has completed inspections on 40 out of 171 grounded aircraft.

The National Transportation Safety Board has taken on the task of investigating the Atlas Air event.

Boeing, in response to the Miami incident, expressed its commitment to assist both its customer and the NTSB in their investigation.

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