Dust Causes Panic On Airliner

A New York-bound TWA airliner with 162 people aboard was evacuated Monday when a ventilation duct ruptured, spewing dust into the jet’s cabin as it prepared for takeoff. Some passengers thought a bomb had gone off.

The 153 passengers slid down the Boeing 767’s emergency chutes, but there were no injuries, said fire department spokesman Jim Wells.

“A fellow came running from the back yelling something about a bomb,” said passenger Barry Fernando.

“Everyone just started running toward the front. And I think the stewardess was telling us to stay put but the guy in front of us popped the emergency exit and we went out,” passenger Mary Ann Khalil said.

There was no immediate explanation of why the duct ruptured aboard the jet, which carried a crew of nine. There was no fire, said TWA spokesman John McDonald in St. Louis.