Plane catches fire at Frankfurt Airport after tow truck pulling it bursts into flames

TEN people were left injured when an airport truck caught fire and the blaze engulfed the cockpit of a passenger jet.

A PASSENGER jet became engulfed in flames after a truck towing it away from an airport terminal burst into flames today, leaving ten people injured.

The Airbus A340-300 was leaving Frankfurt Airport in Germany on Monday when the fire broke out, The Sun reported.

German airline Lufthansa — which is part of the Star Alliance — said ten airport workers suffered minor injuries from smoke inhalation when a vehicle pulling a jet to a gate caught on fire.

The badly damaged cockpit area of a Star Alliance passenger aircraft at the airport in Frankfurt. AFP PHOTO / Boris Roessler

Ten people were slightly injured when a fire broke out on a vehicle towing the Lufthansa plane. Picture: AFP PHOTO/Boris Roessler

Lufthansa said it was still not clear how the fire broke out.

But it said the cockpit of the empty passenger aircraft was seriously damaged by the heavy smoke.

Lufthansa is assessing the extent of the damage.

The fire sent black smoke billowing into the air but airport traffic was not affected by the incident.

The fire broke out on a vehicle towing the plane. Picture: AFP PHOTO/ Boris Roessler

The cockpit of the empty passenger aircraft was seriously damaged by the heavy smoke. Picture: AFP PHOTO/ Boris Roessler

Photographs have been shared on Twitter showing the dramatic scene.

Local media reports the incident occurred when the jet was pushed backwards away from the airport gate by a towing vehicle.

This was a routine manoeuvre that is usually carried out to avoid the aeroplane having to use its engine jets close to the terminal.

It is understood no-one was hurt.

Airplane on fire at Frankfurt airport pic.twitter.com/SL7XskDvft

— Mark Hellemans (@markhellemans) June 11, 2018

Lufthansa Airbus A340-300 (D-AIFA) sustained unknown heat damage whilst under tow at Frankfurt Airport (EDDF) when the connected tug caught fire below it. The reason for the fire is unknown yet. pic.twitter.com/vADKnxuwdE

— JACDEC (@JacdecNew) June 11, 2018

A Frankfurt Airport spokesman has confirmed the fire was limited.

“Aeroplanes or facilities of the airport were not affected by the fire,” the spokesman said.

A Star Alliance spokesman told Sun Online: “A Lufthansa LEOS push-back vehicle caught fire on the apron of Frankfurt airport during re-positioning of an aircraft.

“Heavy smoke emerged. The fire has been completely extinguished. There were no passengers or crew on board.

“Ten people are being treated with respiratory irritations. There are no serious injuries. The defective push-back has been pulled off.”

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission.