What happened
On 15 April 1998, a BAe 146-300, registration EI-CLI, was performing a scheduled public transport flight from Dublin Airport to Edinburgh. Shortly after departing Runway 34 and passing the Dublin VOR, a crew member in the aft galley detected a strong odor of burning. Upon inspecting the galley oven, the crew member discovered flames within the right-hand compartment of the double oven.
The flight crew was immediately notified of the situation. In response, the captain leveled the aircraft at 4,000 feet, declared a PAN-PAN emergency, and requested an immediate return to Dublin. To mitigate the risk, the cockpit crew deactivated the galley power. In the galley, cabin crew utilized Halon fire extinguishers to suppress the flames. Following the successful extinguishment of the fire, the aircraft returned to Dublin Airport and taxied to its stand under the supervision of the airport fire service. There were no injuries among the 88 passengers or 5 crew members on board.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the source of the ignition and the equipment involved. It was determined that the fire originated from the packaging used for heating bread rolls. The investigation revealed that the cotton wrapping used for the rolls had come into contact with the oven heaters, causing it to ignite.
Furthermore, the inquiry found that these specific cotton bags had been recently introduced by the airline's catering provider without receiving necessary approval from the operator's quality assurance department. As a result, the operator suspended the use of these cotton wraps.
Findings
- The primary cause of the fire was the ignition of cotton bread roll packaging when it made contact with the oven heating elements.
- The catering supplier noted that these cotton bags require an oven liner to prevent such contact.
- The introduction of the new packaging material occurred without the required oversight from the operator's quality assurance department.
- Testing of the oven by the manufacturer confirmed the unit was operating correctly both before and after the incident.