Plane caught fire after plunging off runway in China

The scene of the Tibet Airlines plane on fire – Photo: SCMP

Tibet Airlines said the flight carrying 113 passengers and nine crew members was traveling from the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing to Nyingchi, Tibet, when the crew noticed “unusual things.” and “paused take-off”, causing the plane to veer off the runway and burst into flames.

Video posted by China Central Television (CCTV) shows flames and black smoke billowing from the fuselage on the runway at Jiangbei International Airport in Chongqing.

People managed to flee the plane after getting out using the evacuation slide at the back door. CCTV said the fire has now been extinguished and the runway is closed.

On the Weibo social network, Jiangbei Airport (Chongqing) said the fire broke out from the left side of the plane, then spread to the nose of the plane. The airport will resume normal operations at 10:30 am on May 12 (local time). More than 40 passengers were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

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