NTSB ISSUES UPDATE ON 767 CARGO AIRPLANE FIRE

[NTSB Press Releases <NTSBPressReleases@xxxxxxxx>]

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                       NTSB ADVISORY
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National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594

July 3, 2008

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NTSB ISSUES UPDATE ON 767 CARGO AIRPLANE FIRE

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In its continuing investigation to determine the cause of 
the June 28, 2008, fire that burned a hole through the top 
of the fuselage of an ABX Air Boeing 767 cargo airplane 
parked at San Francisco International Airport, the National 
Transportation Safety Board has developed the following 
factual information:  

The primary location of the fire was outside the cargo hold 
in an area just aft of the cockpit.  The fire was 
extinguished by San Francisco Airport Rescue and Fire 
Fighting, but not before causing substantial damage to the 
aircraft.  The flight crew of two, who were preparing to 
start the engines when the fire broke out, escaped from the 
aircraft without injury. 

The NTSB dispatched a team of five investigators to the 
accident scene. Joining them were representatives from the 
Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, 
Tobacco and Firearms; the Transportation Security 
Administration; the Federal Aviation Administration; the San 
Francisco Fire Department; and Airport Rescue and Fire 
Fighting.  NTSB investigators have worked closely with all 
of these groups throughout the process of examining and 
documenting the fire damage to the aircraft.

After the NTSB was notified of the fire, it was reported 
that within a week prior to the accident, the cargo carrier 
had received a threat against an unspecified aircraft.  
Preliminary examinations have not revealed any indication of 
an explosive or incendiary device. 
 
The 21-year-old aircraft was originally configured for 
passenger operations and modified in 2004 to a cargo 
configuration by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).  The 
Israel Ministry of Transport has designated an accredited 
representative to the investigation under the provisions of 
the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 
13.  IAI will serve as a technical adviser to the accredited 
representative. 

NTSB investigators interviewed both members of the flight 
crew yesterday.  The cockpit voice recorder and flight data 
recorder are at NTSB headquarters in Washington where data 
from each is being analyzed.

The NTSB team anticipates completing the on-scene phase of 
the investigation by Sunday, July 6.

Parties to the investigation are the Federal Aviation 
Administration, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, ABX Air, the 
San Francisco Fire Department, the San Francisco Airport 
Authority, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.


Photos:

1. Fire damage in area aft of cockpit, at http://www.ntsb.gov/Pressrel/2008/ABX_Fire_1.jpg
2. Fire damage in area aft of cockpit, at http://www.ntsb.gov/Pressrel/2008/ABX_Fire_2.jpg




NTSB Media Contacts:  

Keith Holloway (hollowk@xxxxxxxx)
Peter Knudson (peter.knudson@xxxxxxxx)

(202) 314-6100



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