Description

On 4 November 2013, a Boeing 767-300 (CN-RNT) being operated by Royal Air Maroc on a scheduled passenger flight (RAM 206) from Casablanca to Montreal had just begun disembarking its 243 passengers after arriving at Montreal in daylight when a burning smell became evident in the passenger cabin. After the crew had established that the origin of the smoke was a fire in ground equipment close to the aircraft, an emergency evacuation was ordered. Seven passengers sustained minor injuries or were overcome by smoke of whom five were taken to hospital. Subsequent inspection of the aircraft found that it was undamaged.

Investigation

An Investigation was carried out by the Canadian Transportation Safety Board. It was established that the aircraft arrived at Gate 61, the engines were shut down, the APU remained running and passengers began leaving the aircraft using the airbridge which had been attached to door 1L.

A belt loader was positioned at the aircraft aft left cargo door (which was close to cabin door 4L) and the driver raised the ramp to sill level before applying the handbrake and stepping down from the driver's seat. At this point, he noticed a fuel leak from the loader engine compartment. He informed a colleague who, after inspecting the situation, called a supervisor. The driver then climbed back into his seat and lowered the ramp so that the loader could be moved away from the aircraft, but the fuel that had accumulated on the ground underneath the loader then ignited and the driver left his seat so as to avoid the flames.