SQ368 fire: Changi Airport's emergency service team hailed as 'heroes' for their swift response

The Airport Emergency Service team posing with their equipment. PHOTO: CHANGI AIRPORT/FACEBOOK

SINGAPORE - The firefighting crew that put out the blaze which broke out on a Singapore Airlines (SIA) plane last week has been hailed as "heroes" for their swift actions.

In a Facebook post dedicated to its Airport Emergency Service team on Sunday (July 3) morning, Changi Airport said: "You've done us proud and we salute you for a job well done!"

A collage of photos showed the team posing with the equipment and vehicles they employ when responding to emergencies.

The post has since racked up more than 3,500 likes and over 700 shares.

SQ368, with 241 people on board, had departed Changi Airport for Milan, Italy, at about 2am last Monday (June 27) when the pilots were alerted to an engine oil problem, which could have been a fuel leak.

Deciding to turn back, the Boeing 777-300ER landed in Changi at about 6.50am before its right wing caught fire.

According to passengers, who remained in the aircraft, the emergency response team took about two minutes to arrive, and less than three minutes to extinguish the fire.

There were no casualties.

The incident made headlines around the globe, with videos of the plane on fire creating a stir on social media.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had expressed his relief after the incident that all who were on board managed to disembark safely.

He also thanked SIA and Changi Airport for their swift response, adding that the Air Accident Investigation Bureau was investigating the cause of the fire.

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