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.

FMI: http://araic.assistmicro.co.jp/araic/commission/eng-prevent.html, www.china-airlines.com