A Regional Express Saab 340 was being readied for departure from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, when ground personnel prematurely disconnected the ground power unit (GPU) from the left engine, interrupting the engine’s start. As the flight crew motored the engine — rotated the engine using its starter— to eliminate residual fuel, they saw ground personnel signaling an engine fire, shut down both engines, discharged the left engine fire extinguisher, and ordered an evacuation.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said the disconnection of the power unit was the first in a chain of events associated with the incident, but that subsequent developments were marred by misinformation and miscommunications.
“Misinterpretation of and miscommunication about a plume of flame and smoke … resulted in the captain ordering an evacuation of the aircraft in which incomplete instructions were provided to the passengers, two passengers sustained minor injuries, and s…
