Engine Fire Forces Evacuation Of Us Airways Jet In Boston

A US Airways jet with 81 passengers and five crew was evacuated Tuesday at Logan International Airport and doused with foam after an engine caught fire just before takeoff.

Eight passengers were treated for minor injuries.

The fire started as the DC-9 was backing away from the gate for a flight to Pittsburgh, said US Airways spokesman Rick Weintraub. Passengers evacuated by way of the plane’s emergency slides.

“I looked out and saw the chute coming down,” said Ken Powtak, an auto parts salesman who was in the airport. “I saw one or two people slide down. Then I noticed both emergency exits open and people jumped onto the wing and then onto tarmac and ran away from the plane.”