An explosion has been reported at Textron Aviation’s manufacturing facility in Wichita, Kansas. The plant was officially closed for the holidays at the time of the explosion, but was staffed by a small crew. At least 14 people were hospitalized and four treated at the scene, but the exact number and severity of the injuries caused by the accident are not yet known. The blast occurred at around 8:05 a.m. local time at the company’s Plant 3 building, which houses composite manufacturing operations and experimental aircraft fabrication.
According to Textron Aviation Director of Communications Stephanie Harder, the explosion was caused by a rupture in a 3-inch liquid nitrogen line. Extensive damage to the building has been reported. Authorities are currently working to secure the site, examine distribution lines for further problems and assess the surrounding buildings for damage. An investigation into the cause of the rupture is underway.
Textron says that the SkyCourier program underway in that same building has not been impacted.
This story will be continue to be updated as more information becomes available.
Not to split hairs, but this sounds more like a pressure rupture of a hydro locked liquid nitrogen line, rather than a combustion explosion. Nitrogen does not burn anyway. That would better fit the inactive status of the building. Too bad there were injuries. Hope everyone will be okay.
You are correct, nitrogen does not burn. But allowed to boil off and build pressure inside a non vented enclosure, liquid nitrogen can be very dangerous in the energy that is released.
There’s a video of the blast and seeing the effect of the blast on the building it’s quite remarkable that a rupture of just a 3″ line would cause that much devastation. I don’t recall seeing any flash or flame emanating anywhere in the blast cloud. I could see a sizeable storage tank rupturing possibly.