A Boeing 787 Dreamliner from Japan Airlines caught fire after an electrical fire broke out. USA today reported that the plane was empty and the incident occurred at Boston's Logan International Airport.
The fire occurred when an auxiliary electric system exploded, reported Reuters. Smoke was discovered in the cockpit around 10:30 a.m. by a mechanic inspecting the jet.
The Associated Press reported that the plane had just landed from Tokyo and all of its 173 passengers and 11 crew members had gotten out of the plane 15 minutes prior to the fire being discovered.
"Fire crews using infrared equipment found flames in a small compartment in the plane's belly and quickly brought the fire under control," reported the AP.
The AP reported that one firefighter suffered skin irritation after he came in contact with the chemical that was used to stop the fire, but there were no serious injuries or fatalities.
The Dreamliner was delivered in 2011 and was well known for being the new plane in the industry with its fuel efficiency.
"Something caused this battery pack to overheat, ignite," Donahue said, adding it's too soon to know the cause.
The flight landed normally at about 10:15 a.m. Its 173 passengers and 11 crew members had already gotten off the jet when a mechanic spotted light smoke in the cockpit and cabin about 15 minutes later and notified Massport.
"When we arrived, it was a heavy smoke, and that was in three minutes, so this was advancing," Massachusetts Port Authority Fire Chief Bob Donahue told the AP.
The National Transportation Safety Board said that it was sending an investigator to Boston to check up on the incident, reported the AP.
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