ABX Air received a threat against an unspecified aircraft one week before a fire burned a large hole through one of its Boeing 767s parked at the San Francisco International Airport.
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) today updated the investigation on the 28 June fire, reporting the sabotage threat. However, no evidence gathered so far points to an intentional cause.
“Preliminary examinations have not revealed any indication of an explosive or incendiary device,” the NTSB reports. The onscene investigation is expected to close by 6 July.
Nonetheless, the NTSB’s team of five investigators have been joined by agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
The fire caused substantial damage just aft of the cockpit outside of the cargo hold. The two-person flight crew, who escaped the cockpit without injury, have been interviewed by the NTSB. The cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder are also being analyzed by the NTSB.
NTSB also reports that the original passenger aircraft was modified into a freighter by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in 2004. IAI also has joined the investigation to serve as a technical adviser, NTSB says.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
