Description

On 20 August 2007, at Frankfurt, while a Boeing 767-300 was taxiing to its parking position, thick smoke developed in the passenger cabin. All passengers and the crew were able to leave the aircraft at the gate without further incident.

Synopsis

The official Report of the Serious Incident by BFU Germany states:

"Five and a half hours after departure, while still in flight, the electronic monitoring system (EICAS) indicated AFT CARGO OVHT. […]

[…] After recycling AFT CARGO HEAT switch in accordance with the Check List, warning message remained.

The aircraft landed at its destination without further incident at 11:21. While taxing to the allocated parking position (gate) the pilot started the gas turbine auxiliary power unit (APU). Shortly afterwards, he received a report of smoke and smell arising in the passenger cabin. The cabin crew reported that the smoke continued to increase rapidly until the aircraft arrived at the gate."

After the crew and passengers disembarked the aircraft, fire fighters with the help of a thermal imaging device located smoldering fire in the insulation material in the freight hold.

The Investigation

An Investigation into the occurrence was carried out by BFU, who determined that:

"The smoldering fire in the insulation material was located below defective strap of molten cables."