NATION : No Injuries in Northwest Jet Fire
Fire broke out on the wing of a Northwest Airlines jet with 69 people aboard at Detroit Metropolitan Airport early today, but it was quickly extinguished and there were no injuries.
The emergency shortly after 6 a.m. caused some tense moments at the airport where two Northwest planes collided on a foggy runway two days earlier, killing eight people.
Northwest Flight 852 from Seattle had safely landed and was at the gate preparing to depart for Newark, N.J., when a Northwest agent saw smoke coming from one of the 727’s wings. The agent grabbed an extinguisher and put the fire out within seconds, a Northwest spokeswoman said. All 69 people aboard were safely evacuated.
The Northwest spokesman said the fire was caused by residual fuel in the aircraft’s auxiliary power unit. When the pilot started the plane, the fuel ignited, sending smoke and flames from the power unit’s wing ducts.
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