[新聞] Houston-bound jet veers off runway, catches fire

[kaichun1216 (Everybody Lies)]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6175524.html

At least 38 people injured
By ANITA HASSAN and DANE SCHILLER
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
Dec. 21, 2008, 1:53AM

At least 38 passengers were injured when a Continental Airlines flight
scheduled to arrive in Houston on Saturday night veered off the runway into a
ravine during its takeoff attempt at the Denver airport, officials said.

Continental Flight 1404 caught fire after it slid off Runway 34, Denver
International Airport spokeswoman Erica Gingerich said. All 112 people aboard
— 107 passengers and five crew members — exited the Boeing 737 via the
emergency slides, Gingerich said.

A few dozen people were transported to the hospital with injuries that
included bruises, broken bones, strained backs and at least one head injury,
officials said.

Emergency workers, including about 100 firefighters, 20 ambulances and six
firetrucks, initially had difficulty finding the wreckage. The plane veered
off course about 2,000 feet from the end of the runway and did not appear to
be airborne, said Kim Day, manager of aviation for Denver International
Airport.

The scene was described as "surreal," said Patrick Hynes, Denver Fire
Department division chief.

The 737 was listing to its right and leaning on its right wing, with a heavy
fire on the right side of the plane, he said.

"It was like a movie scene," Hynes said.

Some passengers on Flight 1404 described an explosion and fire on the right
wing as the plane skidded to a halt.

"There was already smoke in the cabin and people were jumping over seats. ...
Everyone was pushing and shoving and everyone was falling a little because
the wing was smashed on the side, so people were slipping, but most of us got
out OK," Alex Zamora told a Denver television station.

The blaze went on to cause significant fire damage inside the cabin with
overhead luggage compartments melting and dripping onto the seats. Passengers
already had been evacuated at that point.

A few dozen injured patients were transported to hospitals. Others were taken
to a secure part of the airport.

"The care of our passengers, crew and family members is our highest priority
and they will receive any assistance necessary," said Larry Kellner,
Continental Airlines' chairman and chief executive officer. "We are deeply
concerned by this accident and will do everything we can for the passengers,
their families and our co-workers."

One fire official said the plane's wing and fuselage were broken, according
to the Denver Post.

"It's way too early to know what caused it," said Day.

The weather in Denver was cold with clear skies at the time of the accident,
which was reported at 6:18 p.m., Gingerich said.

"We can't speculate if the weather was a cause," she said. "We don't know
what the cause of the accident is at this time."

The flight was scheduled to arrive in Houston around 9:20 p.m.

Houston residents Alfonso Ramirez and Maria De Jesus Rodriguez were waiting
at Bush Intercontinental Airport for word on their 19-year-old daughter and
her 21-year-old boyfriend, both of whom are students at Prairie View A&M
University.

They hadn't heard about the accident and were anxious to get information on
their daughter, the youngest of their seven children. No representatives from
Houston-based Continental were at the airport to explain the accident to the
family.

Relatives were told to call 800-621-3263 for information.

"We don't know if she's among (the injured.) We hope not," said Ramirez, who
was uncertain is his daughter was on that flight or one delayed by the
accident.

The accident closed the airport's west airfield and caused delays of 40
minutes, Day said. She said to also expect delays today.

"At this point, we're concerned with cleaning things up and making sure
everything is safe," Gingerich said.

Debris remained on the runway, with the plane about 200 yards away and its
landing gear shorn off, Hynes said. The plane's left engine was also shorn
off, FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said.

The National Transportation Safety Board arrived at the scene late Saturday
to begin its investigation.


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推 adkwayne:該不會是火燒機的Lite版吧
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推 glico:這篇新聞的內容並不Lite啊
推 adkwayne:全數逃生 飛機有起火(But沒有燒起來) 同是737 同樣從機翼
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