Terrifying audio as pilot begs to land after flight bursts into flames mid-air
This is the terrifying moment an Atlas Air pilot cries "Mayday, mayday, we have an engine fire" after a flight erupted into flames just moments after take-off.
The $400million aircraft experienced engine failure just minutes after departing Miami International Airport at 10.32pm as the plane's left wing was seen on fire.
It forced the pilot to quickly respond as he made a frantic mayday call to air traffic control. "Mayday, mayday...We have an engine fire," the audio recording said. "Request access back to the airport. No, we'll go ahead and land. We have five souls onboard."
READ MORE: Miami plane fire: Atlas Air Boeing 747 erupts into flames mid-air in terrifying footage
The aircraft, which had sparks coming out of it, was forced to loop back over the city before landing just minutes later at 10.46pm.
Russian oil refinery erupts in latest mystery fire at key energy installationsMiami-based eyewitnesses saw the plane on fire and quickly called Miami Dade County Emergency to alert them of the horror blaze.
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Fortunately, no one was injured and the plane, which was Flight 5YO95 - a cargo aircraft- landed after experiencing an engine malfunction just moments after departing Miami International Airport.
"The crew followed all standard procedures and safely returned to MIA," the statement said. "At Atlas, safety is always our top priority and we will be conducting a thorough inspection to determine the cause."
The scary blaze comes after Boeing said it would increase quality inspections of its 737 Max 9 aircraft following the failure of an emergency exit door panel on an Alaska Airlines flight.
Fire services were called to the airport and reported that, miraculously, nobody was harmed. The plane continued its journey to San Juan, Puerto Rico, later in the evening.
Federal regulators grounded the 737 Max, and that Boeing has said that after the Alaska Airlines flight and customer complaints, it is “clear that we are not where we need to be” on quality assurance and controls.
“Our team is also taking a hard look at our quality practices in our factories and across our production system,” said Stan Deal, the president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, in an email to employees.
Boeing is also bringing in airline customers and independent inspectors to go over the aircraft as needed, Deal wrote.
One of two door plugs on an Alaska Max 9 blew out shortly after the plane took off from Portland, Oregon, a week ago, leaving a hole in the plane. The cabin lost pressure and the plane was forced to descend rapidly and return to Portland for an emergency landing. No serious injuries were reported.
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