“Panic set in”: Plane’s wing bursts into flames

A picture obtained from the Facebook account of Connie Carson shows a Sunwing's airplene (front) colliding with a WestJet plane (L rear) on January 5, 2018, at Toronto's Pearson Airport.
Both WestJet and Sunwing confirmed that their planes were involved in the collision. Video footage shared on social media appeared to show the tail of one aircraft aflame and spewing black smoke, and later images indicated that it was Sunwing's plane.
/ AFP PHOTO / FACEBOOK / Connie CARSON / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT «  AFP PHOTO / Connie CARSON  » - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS [- NO ARCHIVE ]

Two days back into the year and already we’re onto our second plane disaster.

Yesterday, two planes clipped wing to tail at JFK airport.

Now, a plane’s wing has burst into flames while parked at Toronto’s Pearson Airport after colliding with another airliner.

The two airlines involved were Canadian airlines Sunwing and Westjet.

The crash led to the emergency evacuation of 168 passengers on board, with footage of the screaming flyers now going viral online.

According to the UK Independent, one firefighter has been taken to hospital while putting out the flames, while Westjet said it has been notified of some “minor injuries”.

Speaking to CBS News, passenger Gustavo Lobo said, “Out of nowhere there was an audible crunch and the plane rocked slightly.

“We looked out the window and saw that the plane had backed up into us. Everyone was a little shocked and kind of chuckling at the situation.

“Panic set in when what seemed to be fuel [started] spewing from the crash. After a couple of seconds, the entire thing ignited and it was chaos inside the plane.

“People screaming and panicking all while the flight attendants shouted to try and control the situation.”

Westjet wrote three separate statements on Twitter addressing the incident.

Westjet

Sunwing also released statements over Twitter.

sunwing

No serious injuries have been reported from the accident.

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