Terrifying moment huge flames rip through a Boeing 777 as it parks on the tarmac of a Chinese airport

by · Mail Online
  • Shocking footage shows the burning aircraft covered in blaze and black smoke
  • The Ethiopian Airlines cargo plane caught fire today at an airport in Shanghai
  • No injuries or deaths have been reported by authorities as the time of writing 
  • Officials are said to be conducting an investigation into the cause of the incident

A Boeing 777 plane burst into flames today in front of shocked passengers while being parked in one of the busiest airports in China

The cargo plane belonging to Ethiopian Airlines caught fire at around 4pm local time on the tarmac of Shanghai Pudong International Airport, according to authorities.

The fire was put off about an hour later, said the local authorities. No injuries or deaths have been reported as the time of writing.

China: Fire crews attend fire on plane at Shanghai airport
Terrifying footage has captured the moment a Boeing 777 engulfed by a huge blaze and smoke at an airport in China. The Ethiopian Airlines cargo plane caught fire at around 4pm today
The fire was put off about an hour later. No injuries or deaths have been reported as of writing

An investigation into the cause of the incident is said to be underway.

Shocking footage shows smoke and flames engulfing the Boeing 777 while several emergency vehicles were rushing towards the burning aircraft.

The aircraft, registered as ET-ARH, was a cargo plane owned by Ethiopian Airlines, according to a statement from the international carrier.

It was scheduled to fly to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia for transfer before heading to Sao Paulo of Brazil, the notice said.

No injuries or deaths have been found in the incident, according to Shanghai Fire Brigade

As one of the busiest transport hubs in China, the Shanghai Pudong International Airport saw over 76million passengers and 511,000 flights flying in and out of the Chinese metropolis in 2019, according to reports

Shocked air passengers who witnessed the scene today posted accounts online, describing the terrifying incident.

One wrote on Twitter-like Weibo: 'I happened to see it as my plane was landing. There was so much black smoke coming out. Hope everyone's safe.' 

The fire was put off about an hour later, said the local authorities. No injuries or deaths have been recorded. An investigation into the cause of the incident is said to be underway
The cargo plane was scheduled to fly from Shanghai to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia for transfer before heading to in Sao Paulo of Brazil, according to a statement from the carrier
Shanghai aviation authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire

Eighteen fire trucks were called to the scene for rescue, said the local authorities. The fire was put off at about 5pm.  

Local aviation authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire, said the air company. 

Ethiopian Airlines experienced a similar fire in 2013 while a Boeing-787 Dreamliner was parked on the tarmac.