Philippine Airlines Flight 143

Philippine Airlines Flight 143 (PR143) was a domestic flight from the Manila Ninoy Aquino Airport, Manila, Philippines to Mandurriao Airport, Iloilo City. On May 11, 1990, at Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport the Boeing 737-300 (C/N 24466, MSN 1771) assigned to the route suffered an explosion in the central fuel tank and was consumed by fire in as little as four minutes.[2][3]

Philippine Airlines Flight 143
A Boeing 737-300 similar to the one involved.
Accident
DateMay 11, 1990
SummaryFuel tank explosion while on ground
SiteManila Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila, Philippines
14°30′31″N 121°01′10″E
Aircraft
Aircraft typeBoeing 737-3Y0
Aircraft namePR143
OperatorPhilippine Airlines
RegistrationEI-BZG
Flight originManila Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila, Philippines
DestinationIloilo Mandurriao Airport, Iloilo City
Occupants120
Passengers114[1]
Crew6
Fatalities8
Survivors112

Accident

The air temperature had been high at the time of the accident, about 35 °C (95 °F), while the Boeing 737-300 was parked at Manila. The air conditioning packs, located beneath the center wing fuel tank of the 737 had been running on the ground before pushback (approximately 30 to 45 minutes). The center wing fuel tank, which had not been filled in two months, likely contained some fuel vapors. Shortly after pushback a powerful explosion in the center fuel tank pushed the cabin floor violently upward. The wing tanks ruptured, causing the airplane to burst into flames.

The majority of the 113 passengers and 6 crew escaped via the emergency chutes, which had been deployed following the blast.[2]

Several passengers reported as many as three explosions in the plane, and Oscar Alejandro, then director of the Philippine Air Transport Office, confirmed the engines had not been started at the time of the blasts.[2]

It is thought the vapors ignited due to damaged wiring, because no bomb, incendiary device, or detonator had been found at the scene.[1] The airline had fitted logo lights after delivery which required passing additional wires through the vapor seals in the fuel tanks. The NTSB recommended to the FAA that an Airworthiness Directive be issued requiring inspections of the fuel boost pumps, float switch, and wiring looms because signs of chafing had been found. The FAA declined to issue the Airworthiness Directive.

Casualties

There were 8 fatalities, including one child, while another 82 people were treated for smoke inhalation and other injuries at the airport clinic. There were no ground fatalities or injuries from the explosion.[1][4]

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gollark: Replying to https://discord.com/channels/346530916832903169/348702212110680064/756206691929948221Sadly, yes, some are behind the itmes.
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See also

References
  1. Accident description at the Aviation Safety Network
  2. "Filipino jet explodes on takeoff, 8 killed". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. 12 May 1990. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
  3. Goglia, John (27 January 2011). "FAA finally takes action on fuel inerting". Aviation International News. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  4. Cortes, Claro (11 May 1990). "Seven die in plane blast". The Free Lance-Star. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
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