United Airlines Flight UA-32 Makes Emergency Landing in Osaka After Fire Alarm
A United Airlines Boeing 737, operating as a continuation of flight UA-32, made an emergency diversion to Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan, on Friday evening. The plane, carrying 135 passengers and 7 crew members, was en route from Tokyo Narita to Cebu, Philippines, when a cockpit alert warned of a fire in the cargo hold. Just 40 minutes into the flight, the pilots declared an emergency and diverted north, back towards Japan. The plane landed safely at Kansai Airport in Osaka at around 7:30 pm, and an evacuation using emergency escape slides was ordered. Two passengers were injured during the evacuation and were transported to a local hospital. An initial inspection of the aircraft revealed no evidence of an actual fire in the cargo hold. Kansai Airport was briefly closed due to the unavailability of the fire service, but one of the airport's two runways has since reopened. This particular flight was a continuation of United flight 32, which starts off in Los Angeles and is operated by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner to Tokyo. The Boeing 737 remains stranded on the other runway at Kansai Airport. United Airlines is currently investigating the cause of the cockpit alert. Passengers have been provided with accommodation and will continue their journey to Cebu once arrangements have been made.
