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38 injured as jet catches fire in Denver
A Continental Airlines jet taking off from Denver veered off the runway into a ravine and caught fire on Saturday night, forcing passengers to evacuate on emergency slides and injuring nearly 40 people, officials said.
- AP
- Published: 09:30 December 21, 2008
Denver: A Continental Airlines jet taking off from Denver veered off the runway into a ravine on Saturday night, forcing passengers to evacuate on emergency slides as the plane burned, officials said.
Nearly 40 people suffered injuries ranging from broken bones to bumps and bruises.
Denver Fire Department Division Chief Patrick Hynes said a fire associated with the accident burned the entire right side of the plane.
Melted plastic from the overhead compartments dripped onto the seats down below, he said. It was unknown when or how the fire started.
Firefighters arriving on the scene described it as "surreal." "Much like a movie, some people coming out of the smoke and up the hill," Hynes said.
Ground crews put out the fire quickly, said airport spokesman Jeff Green. The 112 people on board made it out on through slides on the Boeing 737.
No deaths were reported, but 38 people were taken to hospitals, said Kim Day, Denver International Airport manager of aviation. No one was reported in critical condition.
Debris remained on the runway, with the plane about 200 meters away and its landing gear shorn off, Hynes said.
The accident closed the airport's west airfield and caused delays of 40 minutes.
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