As passengers aboard an Air Sénégal flight operated by TransAir were preparing for a routine flight to Bamako, Mali, their journey took a harrowing turn. Late on Wednesday, the Boeing 737-300, carrying 85 souls, was engulfed in flames and skidded off the runway at Blaise Diagne International Airport, approximately 50 kilometers from the Senegalese capital, Dakar.
Ibrahim Diallo, a 20-year-old Malian citizen, recounted the chilling moments leading up to the accident. “The pilot told us everything was under control and that we’re going to try to take off again,” Diallo told the Associated Press. “The second time, smoke started coming from one of the wings.”
Malian musician Cheick Siriman Sissoko captured the passengers’ frantic escape on his phone. “Only the slide on one side opened, so there was complete panic during the evacuation,” Sissoko said. He described a moment of existential dread as he grappled with the potential consequences: “I saw my life flash before my eyes. I thought about my mother, my wife, my kids,” Sissoko told the Associated Press.
Ten individuals were injured in the inferno, including the pilot. The remaining passengers were brought to a hotel to recover from the traumatic ordeal, as per the country’s transport minister.
The cause of the fire that led the aircraft to veer off course has not been immediately determined. Meanwhile, the Aviation Safety Network has identified the aircraft involved as a Boeing 737-38J, an older model delivered in the 1990s. Photographs from the scene reveal a damaged wing and one engine seemingly torn apart, with the aircraft surrounded by fire suppressant foam.
Boeing’s statement referred inquiries to the airline operator, emphasizing their role in maintaining their fleets over the years. “We refer you to each operator for questions related to their fleet operations. We will provide any requested support to our customer,” the statement read.
This incident adds to the tumultuous week for Boeing, with a tire bursting on another 737 in Turkey and a door plug failing on a 737 Max in January. The Federal Aviation Administration recently mandated that Boeing must present a plan to address quality concerns and safety standards within 90 days.
The company has been under significant scrutiny since the two fatal crashes of its 737 Max jets in 2018 and 2019, which led to the deaths of 346 people. In April, a Boeing whistleblower testified before Congress, suggesting that manufacturing shortcuts could result in the structural failure of the 787 model.
Relevant articles:
– Passengers flee fiery wreckage of Boeing 737 that skidded off runway in Senegal , New York Post, 05/10/2024
– Boeing 737 catches fire and skids off the runway in Senegal, injuring 10 people, The Associated Press, 05/09/2024
– Boeing 737: Plane skids off runway in Senegal, tyre bursts in Turkey, Al Jazeera English, 05/09/2024
– Boeing 737 plane skids off runway at Senegal’s main airport with 10 people injured, The Independent, 05/09/2024
– 4 seriously hurt when Transair Boeing 737 skids off runway during takeoff in Senegal, ABC News, 05/09/2024