Flight Aborted at JFK After Fire Breaks Out in Landing Gear

Firefighters scrambled to douse the flames on an aircraft that aborted takeoff at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport on Oct. 1, after the plane’s landing gear caught fire.

“Kennedy ground, you got an emergency. Emergency,” an unidentified voice can be heard, according to NBC New York, citing LiveATC.net, a repository of air traffic control interactions.

Several unidentified individuals take part in the conversation:

“Send a fire truck out here. ASAP, ASAP, ASAP!”

“Is there flames coming out or is that just, looks like sparks?”

“Uh, it appears to be flames, at the very least it’s a very severe glow.”

Passengers were evacuated from the aircraft using mobile stair ramps.

Officials reported no injuries.

Aircraft rescue firefighter units evacuate passengers from a Delta aircraft that aborted takeoff, citing a gear fire at JFK Airport, New York, Oct. 1, 2018. Port Authority PBA

Video posted by Port Authority Police Benevolent Association, the law enforcement union representing Port Authority Police Officers, shows the stationary aircraft and firefighters hosing down the smoldering landing gear.

Aircraft rescue firefighter units hosing down the landing gear of the Delta plane at JFK Airport, in New York, on Oct. 1, 2018. Port Authority PBA

The fire broke out in the main landing gear wheel well of Delta flight No. 420, a Boeing B763, just before 7:30 p.m. Monday, NBC reported, citing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

An aircraft firefighter unit responded to the emergency.

Aircraft rescue firefighter units hosing down the landing gear of the Delta plane at JFK Airport, in New York, on Oct. 1, 2018. Port Authority PBA

“Mon., 10/1, JFK Airport; Delta aircraft aborted takeoff, reported gear fire. Port Authority Police Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighter (ARFF) Unit on scene,” tweeted Port Authority PBA.

Aircraft rescue Firefighter units inspect the landing gear of the Delta plane at JFK Airport, in New York, on Oct. 1, 2018. Port Authority PBA

In a separate but concurrent incident, a Delta plane departing from LaGuardia Airport made an emergency landing at JFK due to a possible bird strike, according to the Port Authority PBA.

“At the same time as the JFK Delta fire a Delta Airbus 319, that just departed LaGuardia, made an emergency landing at JFK with a possible bird strike. PAPD ARFF had to split ARFF response,” the PBA said in a tweet.

Officials reported no flight disruptions due to the incidents.