Airports

This week: Fort Lauderdale plane fire, Star Wars at Changi & more

It’s been a rather eventful week in regards to airport related news around the world. This week even President Obama was delayed on one of his flights as we reported through Twitter. But here are our main stories:

The most dangerous incident at any airport this week happened in the United States, more precisely in Florida. According to Business Insider a passenger plane caught on fire Thursday at the Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport (FLL). The plane was a Dynamic Airways Boeing 767.

CNN precised the incident by saying that the engine of a Boeing 767 carrying 101 people caught fire as the plane taxied for departure Thursday at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida. It was bound for Caracas, Venezuela. Seventeen people were taken to Broward Health Medical Center, according to a spokeswoman there. Among those transported were a child and a trauma patient. Two of the 17 had been treated and discharged as of Thursday evening.

Then the Guardian reported that a British Airways-badged passenger jet is stuck on a runway in South Africa after its landing gear collapsed on arrival. According to the article Flight BA6234 became stuck on the runway at O.R. Tambo international airport (JNB), near Johannesburg, after touching down from its cross-country flight from Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, at about 12pm [on Monday]. All 94 passengers and six crew were evacuated safely to the terminal building. There were no injuries, the airport said.

Embarrassing news reached us from Mexico this week:

https://twitter.com/vargasmoni/status/659204804418342912

According to the Daily Mail the Interjet aircraft was being towed from its hangar to take up position at the terminal when it crashed into the passenger transporter. Staff wearing high visibility jackets can be seen surveying the damage at Mexico City International Airport (MEX). The cockpit of the plane suffered the most damage as the nose was dragged underneath the walkway causing damage to the top. It is not known if anyone was injured in the incident, although it is believed there were no passengers on board the aircraft.

And – to finish off the week – some exciting news for all Star Wars fans: The X-Wing and TIE fighter from popular sci-fi film series Star Wars will be landing at Changi Airport (SIN) on Nov 12, reported The Star. The life-sized X-Wing will be set up at Terminal 3, while a scale model of the TIE fighter will stand tall at Terminal 2. Both will be located in the terminal’s public areas. While the displays will be up at the airport until Jan 5, a one-off launch parade will be held on Nov 12 to mark the aircraft’s unveiling. Fans can expect to see Imperial Stormtroopers as well as starfighter X-Wing pilots face off in a show at Terminal 3 that day from 11.30am onwards.

That’s all for this week – safe travels!

[Title photo from @chrisdick via Twitter]