Aviation Experts From Japan, Taiwan And US Will Conduct
Investigation
The explosion that blew
apart a China Airlines 737-800 Monday while it taxied to its gate
at Okinawa's Naha airport may have been provoked by a massive fuel
leak from the jet's right engine.
The explosion occurred just moments after all passengers and
flight crew was evacuated via the inflatable chutes, as ANN reported.
Investigators were zeroing in on evidence and witness accounts a
large amount of fuel spilled from the jet's starboard engine while
on the roll.
"From the size and intensity of the fire, we may be looking at a
very large fuel leak," said Hiromi Tsurumi, a spokesman with
Japan's Aircraft and Railway Accidents Investigation
Commission.
Japanese, Taiwanese and US aviation experts have joined together
as an investigative team. The formal investigation is scheduled to
begin Wednesday, according to Japan's Transport Ministry. Boeing
spokesperson Jim Proulx said the plane maker is sending an
investigator to Japan as well.
According to Taiwan's Civil Aviation Authority, problems with a
sensor connected to one of the 737's wings had been identified
earlier this month with a recurrence of the same problem the next
day. But, the authority says the problem is unrelated to the
explosion, according to the Associated Press.
There have also been media reports there was damage to the pylon
connecting the engine to the wing, that could have punctured a fuel
pipe and caused the initial fire.
Officials praised the pilots for the quick evacuation. According
to airline spokesperson Johnson Sun, the entire evacuation was
completed in about three minutes. Pilots Yu Chien-kuo and Tseng
Ta-wei jumped out the cockpit windows after ensuring everyone else
had made it safely from the aircraft.
"I saw flames coming from the left, so I escaped from the
right," said Yu. "After I jumped, my mind went blank."
Zhao Guo-shi, president
of China Airlines, said Tuesday he was sorry and embarrassed about
the incident.
"What's important is that our passengers forgive us," Zhao told
broadcaster TV Asahi after he boarded a busload of Taiwanese
tourists to offer a direct apology.
The tourists had red envelopes that reportedly contained $100
that Zhao gave them as compensation.
"I'm not satisfied. This is not enough to replace my luggage
destroyed in the fire," said one of the female tourists.