Incident Overview
Following a routine landing, the aircraft was taxiing toward its assigned gate when a flight attendant alerted the captain to a perceived fire in the rear section of the cabin. In response to this report, the captain immediately halted the aircraft's movement to initiate safety protocols.
Emergency Response and Evacuation
Upon stopping the aircraft, the crew executed the company's standard emergency evacuation procedures to deplane all occupants. The rapid departure from the aircraft resulted in minor injuries sustained by one flight attendant and one passenger. All other individuals on board, comprising ninety-six passengers and six additional crew members, exited without sustaining any injuries.
Technical Investigation Findings
Subsequent investigation revealed that no actual fire was present at the time of the incident; rather, smoke had accumulated within the passenger cabin. The source of the smoke was traced to the aircraft's air conditioning and heating system ducts. Specifically, an oil leak originating from the Aircraft Power Unit (APU) migrated into the APU ductwork, the air conditioning packs, and the associated circulation ducting.
Mechanism of Smoke Generation
The incident occurred when a specific heat range was selected for the cabin environment. Under these conditions, the oil-laden air circulating through the system transformed into visible smoke as it exited the cabin heat duct openings, creating the hazardous atmosphere that prompted the emergency evacuation.