Sunday, May 11, 2003
Small Blast on S.F. Plane Cargo Hold
From: spliffslips
Military Care Packages War Updates
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Small Blast on S.F. Plane Cargo Hold
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By Associated Press
May 11, 2003, 4:11 PM EDT
SAN FRANCISCO -- A shipping container packed with electronic test equipment exploded inside an airliner's cargo hold Sunday while passengers were boarding, officials said.
A battery pack in the container of electronic gear may have been to blame for the small blast, said Mike McCarron, a spokesman for San Francisco International Airport.
United Flight No. 33 was preparing for takeoff on a flight to Kauai Island, Hawaii.
"As the baggage handler was moving bags around the cargo hold one of the packed shipping containers exploded, a minor explosion, and blew the hinges off" the container, McCarron said.
There were no injuries, McCarron said, but the baggage handler was "upset."
He said the container was well padded and insulated and would likely not have caused any damage to the plane had it been airborne.
Passengers were evacuated and rescheduled for an alternate flight.
Copyright (c) 2003, The Associated Press
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This article originally appeared at:
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-brf-baggage-explosion,0,783476.story
Visit Newsday online at http://www.newsday.com
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Military Care Packages War Updates
--------------------
Small Blast on S.F. Plane Cargo Hold
--------------------
By Associated Press
May 11, 2003, 4:11 PM EDT
SAN FRANCISCO -- A shipping container packed with electronic test equipment exploded inside an airliner's cargo hold Sunday while passengers were boarding, officials said.
A battery pack in the container of electronic gear may have been to blame for the small blast, said Mike McCarron, a spokesman for San Francisco International Airport.
United Flight No. 33 was preparing for takeoff on a flight to Kauai Island, Hawaii.
"As the baggage handler was moving bags around the cargo hold one of the packed shipping containers exploded, a minor explosion, and blew the hinges off" the container, McCarron said.
There were no injuries, McCarron said, but the baggage handler was "upset."
He said the container was well padded and insulated and would likely not have caused any damage to the plane had it been airborne.
Passengers were evacuated and rescheduled for an alternate flight.
Copyright (c) 2003, The Associated Press
--------------------
This article originally appeared at:
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-brf-baggage-explosion,0,783476.story
Visit Newsday online at http://www.newsday.com
