Although the incident is now near 4 months old, more details have emerged from a KLM diversion incident that took place on February ninth, 2023. The Boeing 777-200ER was about 90 minutes into its flight from Amsterdam to Johannesburg when a hearth broke out within the cabin. The Dutch Safety Board has opened an investgation, which remains to be listed as ongoing.
Diversion details
Going down on Thursday, February ninth, KLM flight KL591 took off from Amsterdam at 11:00 local time for a lengthy service to Johannesburg, South Africa. Based on The Aviation Herald, the Boeing 777-200ER, registered PH-BQO, was cruising at FL330 about 80nm east of Menorca (Spain) when the incident occurred. Passengers reported strange smells and fumes coming from the rear of the cabin. The crew then made the choice to descend to FL280 and return to Amsterdam. Along the best way fuel was dumped, and a protected landing was accomplished on Amsterdam’s runway 18R. Your entire ‘flight to nowhere’ had a duration of nearly three-and-a-half hours.
Photo: FlightRadar24.com
Examining FlightRadar24.com data, it seems that the incident resulted in PH-BQO spending nearly seven full days on the bottom. The aircraft’s first post-incident service was flight KL597 to Cape Town, South Africa.
Electrical fire in oven in charge
On the identical day because the incident, the Dutch Safety Board (Onderzoeksraad) put out a tweet notifying the general public that It was at Amsterdam Schiphol airport conducting an investigation. Translated from Dutch, the post adds that it concerned
Dutch website Noordhollands Dagblad was quick to report on the incident, posting on the identical day that a hearth had broken out within the kitchen of the aircraft.
Translated from Dutch, the identical article states that KLM reported all passengers and cabin crew “might be taken care of and receive medical support if essential.” There have been no reported injuries while passengers were rebooked to a different flight.
Based on The Aviation Herald, a passenger reported an odd smell as other passengers were visibly upset and shaken throughout the incident. The electrical fire had broken out in an oven positioned within the aircraft’s aft galley, with toxic gasses filling this rear section. Passengers seated in the realm were moved to the center of the cabin as flight attendants donned protective masks and rushed with fire extinguishers to place out the fireplace.
Photo: Dutch Safety Board
It was also reported that the toxic smell lingered, whilst passengers disembarked the aircraft at Amsterdam Schiphol, two hours after the incident. On June 1st, the Onderzoeksraad reported that the aft galley oven had overheated. Rated by the federal government agency as a serious incident, the Dutch Safety Board’s website lists its status as “ongoing.”
The incident is harking back to an Austrian Airlines incident in July 2022, which also involved a Boeing 777-200 and a malfunctioning oven.
What do you’re thinking that of this incident? Have you ever ever been onboard a flight that encountered fire or overheating related to galley equipment? Share your experiences by leaving a comment!