Viral video: Fire rips through Russian tourist plane's engine
A Russian tourist plane was involved in a terrifying incident today in Phuket when one of its engines caught fire during takeoff, resulting in an abrupt abort of the flight. Tyres on the aircraft also exploded, causing a loud blast that was heard by those on board.
As a precautionary measure, all 300 passengers and 12 crew members were promptly evacuated and offloaded from the Boeing 767-306ER. Dramatic photos and videos have since emerged, showing the right wing of the aircraft in flames and producing smoke as it drove across the airport tarmac.
Following the emergency, the passengers and crew were advised to await a new flight. The incident caused a temporary halt in air traffic at Phuket International Airport, as the authorities worked to bring the situation under control.
According to eyewitnesses, the landing gear on the same right side of the aircraft also caught fire, adding to the alarming situation. However, the prompt action of the flight crew and emergency response teams ensured that everyone on board was safely evacuated and there were no reported injuries.