Blaze Was Extinguished Before The Plane Landed

A United Airlines 757 enroute from New York to LA made an emergency landing at Dulles Airport near Washington, D.C. after a fire broke out in the airplane's cockpit. An FAA spokesperson said the fire was extinguished by the air crew before the airplane landed.

WCBS-TV reports that a passenger said he saw someone carrying a fire extinguisher to the cockpit of the aircraft, and other passengers later showed him pictures they had taken of flames in the cockpit.

A United spokesperson confirmed that the fire occurred and that the plane was diverted to Dulles, but offered no other details about the incident.

Passenger Phil Lobel told the station he smelled something that could have been an electrical fire about 30 minutes into the flight. He said he saw flight attendants briefing passengers in exit rows about emergency procedures, and it was about that time that someone was observed carrying the fire extinguisher to the front of the airplane.

The NTSB is investigating the incident, and has assigned a team of three to look into the matter. The FAA said it did not appear criminal activity was involved.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov, www.faa.gov