Description

On 29 July 2011, a Boeing 777-200 being operated by EgyptAir on a scheduled passenger flight to Jeddah was parked on the departure gate whilst awaiting the last few passengers and completion of hold loading when a fire suddenly began at the lower right hand side of the flight deck. Despite prompt attempts to extinguish the fire, it continued to burn out of control causing major structural damage to the front of the aircraft. However, all 317 occupants were safely evacuated using the still-attached air bridge access at doors 1L and 2L.

Investigation

An Investigation was carried out by the Egyptian CAA Air Accident Investigation Central Directorate (AAICD). Flight Data Recorder (FDR), Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and QAR downloads were available to assist the Investigation but as the engines were not running, there was no useful data on the FDR and the QAR contained only data relating to the operation of the APU and to electrical power supplied by it. An initial “Investigation Progress Statement” was released on 18 October 2011 which detailed the initially established factual information and some response actions by Boeing in respect of the integrity of aircraft systems which it appeared may have been involved in the fire.