NTSB Supports Air China Probe

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is assisting the government of Japan in its investigation of the Aug. 20 fire on board a China Air Lines Boeing 737-800 in Okinawa. NTSB Chairman Mark V. Rosenker designated senior investigator Robert Benzon as the U.S. accredited representative. An NTSB powerplants investigator and technical representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration, General Electric, and Boeing will accompany him. The Safety Board said preliminary reports indicate that the accident occurred when one of the aircraft’s two engines caught fire. The Aircraft and Railroad Accident Investigation Committee (ARAIC) of Japan will release all information on the progress of the investigation. The Boeing 737-800 was engulfed in flames after landing at Naha Airport. Local officials said the left engine caught fire while the plane was taxiing on the runway and exploded several minutes later, but all 157 passengers and eight crew evacuated safely. The flight deck crew did not report any problems before fire broke out. Flight 120 left Taipei and landed on the island at which time passengers say an explosion was heard before the engine burst into flames minutes after landing.