The Nation : Jet Catches Fire; Six Hurt

An engine on an Eastern Airlines L-1011 caught fire as the jet taxied toward takeoff at New York’s Kennedy International Airport, and six passengers were injured as they slid down emergency chutes, police said. About 25 of the 256 people aboard decided on their own to slide down two emergency chutes before the fire was put out, police Sgt. Kevin Ward said. Eastern spokesman Lee Bright said the fire was normal and was most likely a burn off of fuel built up in the engine’s tail. Ward said the injuries varied from a broken hip to sprains. Airport police extinguished the blaze and halted the evacuation. Remaining passengers left the plane in a bus.