American 767, FedEx MD-11 Catch Fire Hours Apart

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At least eight people suffered minor injuries when a Boeing 767 caught fire during takeoff roll at Chicago O’Hare Friday afternoon. A couple of hours later, a FedEx MD-11 also caught fire atFort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida afterits left gear collapsed. The two pilots escaped unharmed. The jet had just flown from Memphis, WSVN reported. In Chicago, the American Airlines crew aborted takeoff from O’Hare’s Runway 28R about 2:35 p.m., according to a Chicago Tribune report. Flight 383 was headed for Miami with 161 passengers and nine crew members, who were seen on video as they escaped via emergency slides on the left side of the jet as the right wing burned.

One flight attendant and seven passengers were injured and were taken to local hospitals, the airline said in the Tribune report, although news outlets were reporting that EMS crews assisted as many as 20 people who were hurt. An engine problem was blamed for the incident, the airline said. Preliminary investigation points to an uncontained engine failure but the cause of the failure has not been determined. A piece of the engine reportedly hit the roof of a building. The Tribune reported that controllers immediately spotted the aborted takeoff and fire as the pilot said “we’re evacuating.” Fire and rescue crews were called and quickly contained the fire. The incident closed at least three runways at O’Hare.

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