A Boeing 747 cargo plane was forced to make an emergency landing on Thursday night after it was spotted spewing flames in the sky over Miami, raising concerns about the safety of Boeing aircraft.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), already investigating Boeing after an Alaska Airlines flight made an emergency landing due to a door plug falling off mid-flight, has announced that it will look into this latest incident on an Atlas Air flight.
The incident involved Flight 5Y095, headed for Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport in Puerto Rico, which experienced an engine malfunction after departing from Miami International Airport, but managed to land safely back in Miami.
An Atlas Air spokesperson stated that the crew followed standard procedures and safely returned to the airport, emphasizing that safety is their top priority and that a thorough inspection will be conducted to determine the cause of the malfunction.
According to the FAA, the plane took off at 10:22 p.m. and returned to Miami at 10:30 p.m. on Thursday. A preliminary examination of the engine revealed a substantial hole above the #2 engine.
Cellphone video footage captured by a Miami resident shows the plane flying across the night sky with a trail of fire behind it, causing panic among onlookers.
This recent incident adds to Boeing’s history of issues and safety concerns. Just two weeks ago, the FAA grounded certain Boeing 737 Max 9 planes after the Alaska Airlines incident. Inspections of the grounded planes are ongoing, with the FAA emphasizing that the safety of the flying public is their top priority.
The National Transportation Safety Board has also announced that it is investigating the Atlas Air incident. In response to the Miami mishap, Boeing expressed its support for their customer and the NTSB investigation.
This latest emergency landing has further raised questions about the safety and reliability of Boeing aircraft, highlighting the need for thorough inspections and maintenance to ensure the safety of air travel.
Historically, Boeing has faced several safety and mechanical issues, including the grounding of the 737 Max 9 planes and other incidents involving its aircraft. The company’s response and actions in the wake of these incidents will be closely monitored to ensure the safety of air travel in the future.