PANICKED passengers were evacuated from a burning Boeing 767 at the end of a packed tourist flight from Vietnam. One of the wheels ignited fire after a “loud bang” on a failed landing in the Russian city of Barnaul, prompting a full-scale emergency as the aircraft made its second attempt. Smoke swirled through the rear […]
PANICKED passengers were evacuated from a burning Boeing 767 at the end of a packed tourist flight from Vietnam.
One of the wheels ignited fire after a “loud bang” on a failed landing in the Russian city of Barnaul, prompting a full-scale emergency as the aircraft made its second attempt.
Smoke swirled through the rear part of the passenger cabin as the plane landed, said reports.
A woman passenger on the seven-hour flight said: “Somebody shouted: ‘We’re on fire’.
“And there was chaos as people rushed forward and started pushing each other.”
A total of 56 were injured as passengers were ordered to flee the plane using emergency slides – one of which “failed to properly open” during the evacuation.
They were instructed by the crew to run some 650 ft from the burning Azur Air 767-300ER amid fears it could explode in flames.
There were 334 passengers on board and ten crew, said reports.
One male passenger said: “People were in panic at the start when the steward said we have to get out as quick as possible – women screamed.”
A woman tourist Maryna Shevchenko said: “There were no injuries during the actual landing.
“But there were during the evacuation.
“There was panic, crowding – bruises, broken legs. It was really harsh.”
Another passenger said: “They shouted at us to run 100-to-200 metres from the plane.
“Everyone would rushed towards the fields.
“Firefighters reacted quickly, the air crew were also great, a stewardess yelled in different languages and threw people off onto the gangway.”
Videos show passengers screaming as the emerge from the stricken aircraft onto the snow covered tarmac.
Reports said flames were seen from landing gear of one wheel as the 28-year-old plane made its second approach.
The evacuation took five minutes.
The fire was extinguished 11 minutes after landing, it was reported.
Most of the injured were treated by emergency medical teams at the airport.
Others were moved to local hospitals.
Two had broken bones and a woman suffered a spine and kidney injury.
Seven ambulance teams were at the scene.
The Russian plane had flown from Cam Ranh in Vietnam.
The airline said that “thanks to the professional and orchestrated actions of Azur Air crew, all passengers were evacuated”.
A preliminary investigation was launched by the Russian authorities into the incident.
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