Incident Overview
During the takeoff roll with the first officer at the controls, the pneumatic distribution supply duct ruptured. The captain noted a slight change in cabin pressure and an advisory message on the Electronic Information Crew Alarm System (EICAS) indicating a pneumatic duct leak. The first flight attendant reported smoke, dust, and elevated temperatures in the cabin.
Actions Taken
The captain assumed control of the aircraft, aborted the takeoff, and exited the runway via a midfield taxiway. After leaving the runway, the captain instructed the first officer to inspect the cabin. The first officer confirmed the flight attendant's observations and noted that passengers were coughing continuously. In response, the captain ordered an evacuation of all personnel using the emergency egress slides.
Post-Incident Examination
An examination revealed that the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) supply duct had ruptured along a welded seam at fuselage station (FS) 1219.