Atlas Air 747-8 returns safely to MIA after engine fire

[y_p_w]

Pretty dramatic. I take it that it's spewing burning fuel that's leaving a trail of little fireballs.

Atlas Air Boeing 747 cargo plane experiences engine failure, FAA investigating

Federal officials are investigating after an Atlas Air Boeing 747 cargo plane experienced an engine failure soon after departing from Miami International Airport.

abcnews.go.com

Juan Browne seems to think it was shedding turbine blades.

 

[ls1mike]

I am done looking at these. I fly out Monday from Seattle to Norfolk.

 

[Exhaustgases]

I'm guessing each puff translates into a gallon or more of Jet A.

And everytime one of those type of engines go south, its just a cool 20 to 40 million down the tube.

 

[Taildragger]

Juan Brown has a pretty good video out about that,

 

[wavinwayne]

I'm assuming the pilots immediately shut down engines 1 & 2. Otherwise, the fire wouldn't have gone out and the plane wouldn't have landed. Glad nobody died.

 

[ctechbob]

Looks too sparkly to be fuel. I think Juan is probably on the right track. Expensive pieces of titanium, carbon fiber, and high-grade steel are being pulverized and shot out the back (probably a little fuel in there too though).

 

[Astro14]

Compressor stall - followed by rapid unplanned disassembly of the engine.

Engine failure in other words.

The Mayday call included the words “engine fire” and I am certain that the fire warning was illuminated.

All the drama - explosions, parts shedding, flames - usually stops when you pull the fire handle - and remove the fuel, electric power, isolate hydraulics, and isolate pneumatics. But to run the checklist takes a bit of time, and during that time - with fuel still being supplied, it will try to keep running, and you’ll get the explosions, parts shedding, and flames.