A Total Linhas Aereas Boeing 737-400 freighter, registration PS-TLB performing flight 0T-5682 from Vitoria,ES to Sao Paulo Guarulhos,SP (Brazil), was descending towards Guarulhos when the crew reported a fire in the cargo hold and declared emergency. The aircraft continued towards Guarulhos’ runway 28L, about 5 minutes prior to landing the radio contact was lost (the transponder continued to work normally), however, the crew managed a safe landing on runway 28L and stopped on the runway. Tower reported seeing fire from the aircraft, the crew evacuated via rope through the cockpit windows, emergency services responded and penetrated the fuselage to extinguish the fire. The following morning about 8 hours after landing, after all cargo was unloaded, the aircraft could be towed off the runway. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, in particular the fire burned through the aircraft crown.
The airport reported a fire was identified in the cargo hold of the aircraft while still in flight.
Brazil’s CENIPA opened an investigation into the occurrence.
Source – Aviation Herald
