Passengers Flee As Fireball Engulfs Plane

By NO BYLINE

ALL 165 people on board had a lucky escape when a plane burst into flames at an airport in Japan today.

Officials said the aircraft, a China Airlines Boeing 737 jet en route from Taiwan, skidded on the tarmac on its way from the runway to the gate after landing at the Okinawa Airport.

All 157 passengers – including two small children – fled the aircraft on emergency slides before the plane erupted in a fireball. The eight-strong crew also escaped.

Transport Ministry official Akihiko Tamura said: “The fire started when the first engine below the main left wing exploded, a minute after the aircraft entered the parking spot.” He said one crew member was injured, though the extent of the injuries was not known.

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