Terrified passengers leap from plane’s emergency exit after fire

Terrified passengers leapt out of a plane’s emergency exit after flames began billowing from the aircraft’s engine.

Terrified passengers leapt out of a plane’s emergency exit after flames began billowing from the aircraft’s engine right before takeoff.

One passenger noticed the fire and panicked, opening the emergency door while screaming to other travellers.

Dozens of spooked flyers followed suit, pushing and shoving their way to the exit on the Trigana Air plane – an airline based in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The engine of Jakarta-based airline Trigana Air caught on fire. Picture: Jam Press

Passengers were seen escaping from the emergency exit of the plane. Picture: Jam Press

Another clip shows passengers gathered on the tarmac while others whiz down the evacuation slide.

The Boeing 737-500 aircraft caught fire at Sentani Airport in Jayapura, Papua Province, Indonesia on Tuesday.

The plane on fire on the runway. Picture: Jam Press

Flight IL237, bound for the town of Wamena, had 121 passengers on board at the time.

The flight was cancelled and two others were delayed due to the fire.

Airport security head Iptu Wajedi said: “When the exhaust gases hit for the first time, sometimes a fire breaks out.

One passenger noticed the fire and panicked, opening the emergency door while screaming to other travellers. Picture: Jam Press

“Seeing this, passengers were shocked and tried to escape from the fire.

“So everyone scattered from the plane in fear.”

He said all the passengers were able to get off the plane.

“We are trying to find the identity of the passenger who was the first to say that the plane was on fire.”

Airport spokesperson Surya Eka said the flight was cancelled because a passenger suddenly opened the emergency door when he saw fire coming out of the plane’s engine.

“Four passengers were injured due to the pushing and shoving to get off the plane,” Mr Eka added

The injured travellers were treated at the Health Quarantine Centre.

“The incident caused the plane, which was supposed to carry 121 passengers to Wamena, to not take off,” he said.

He said they are currently waiting for the National Transportation Safety Committee to carry out an investigation into the cause of the fire.