Plane Makes Emergency Landing As Flames Shoot Out

A team of investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board are rushing to Philadelphia International Airport, where the charred remains of a UPS DC-8 await their scrutiny.

The plane -- which UPS spokesman Mark Giuffre said was carrying 'regular customer packages' -- touched down at PHL shortly past midnight Wednesday. The fire apparently started in the aircraft's cargo hold, and flames were visible from the rear of the aircraft as it landed.

Once the aircraft (file photo of type, above) was stopped, the plane's three-person flight crew bailed out, according to the Associated Press. All three were examined for smoke inhalation and released.

The plane burned for hours, before firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control at approximately 4 am.

By 9:00 this morning, operations at PHL were "almost business as usual," airport spokesman Mark Pesce said.

The NTSB reports Frank Hilldrup will lead the go-team, and will serve as the Investigator-in-Charge.

**   Report created 2/8/2006   Record 4  
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IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 748UP        Make/Model: DC87      Description: DC-8-70
  Date: 02/08/2006     Time: 0125

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: None     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Substantial

LOCATION
  City: PHILADELPHIA   State: PA   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  N748UP, A UNITED PARCEL SERVICE BOEING/DOUGLAS DC-8-71F ACFT, REPORTED
  SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT ON LANDING, CREW EVACUATED, ACFT CAUGHT FIRE, NO
  INJURIES REPORTED, PHILADELPHIA, PA

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: NOT REPORTED

OTHER DATA

  Departed:                             Dep Date:    Dep. Time:     
  Destination:                          Flt Plan:              Wx Briefing: 
  Last Radio Cont: 
  Last Clearance: 

  FAA FSDO: PHILADELPHIA, PA  (EA17)              Entry date: 02/08/2006

FMI: www.ntsb.gov