A Boeing 737-38J operated by Senegal-based airline Transair caught fire and skidded off the runway at Blaise Diagne International Airport in Senegal.
At least 10 people, including a pilot, were injured in the incident on May 9, 2024.
The aircraft involved was a Boeing 737-300, operated by Senegal-based airline Transair and chartered by Air Senegal. The flight was headed to Bamako, with 79 passengers, two pilots and four cabin crew, when the crash happened at Blaise Diagne International Airport in Dakar, Senegal’s capital, during takeoff.
The aircraft caught fire and skidded off the runway, leading to injuries and a harrowing experience for passengers. One engine appeared to have broken apart, and a wing was also damaged.
At least 10 people were injured, including a pilot. Passengers were evacuated from the burning aircraft, and some described the terrifying ordeal.
Passengers slid down emergency chutes in the darkness as flames engulfed one side of the plane, according to Cheick Siriman Sissoko, a Malian musician who recorded the ordeal on his phone. “I thought about my family as I saw my life flash before my eyes,” he said. Only one side’s chute opened, causing panic during evacuation, he added.
Ibrahim Diallo, 20, who was on the flight, mentioned that the plane had previously attempted to take off but failed. “The pilot assured us everything was fine and we would try again,” he said. “But smoke started coming from one of the wings during the second attempt.”
Boeing declined to comment and referred inquiries to the airlines, stating that carriers are responsible for their fleet’s operations. Air Sénégal did not respond to requests for comment but announced on social media that flights between Dakar and Bamako were rescheduled.
The aircraft involved in the incident was delivered in the 1990s, indicating its age and potential implications for maintenance and safety standards.
Emergency services responded promptly to the scene, and the injured were transported to hospitals for treatment. The cause of the incident is under investigation by local authorities.
Similarly , a Boeing 737-800 belonging to Corendon Airlines had a tyre burst during landing at Gazipasa Airport in Turkey. All 190 people on board, including six crew members, were safely evacuated.