Fire at airport causes delays, evacuations
December 14, 2011, 11:01 am
A small fire caused the San Antonio International Airport to evacuate, leaving a loaded small plane to wait on the tarmac for nearly two hours while crews tamed the flames. Airport spokesman Rich Johnson said the electrical fire started in a basement, creating lots of smoke and forcing passengers and staff to evacuate the facility as a safety precaution.
My San Antonio reported the plane that was waiting to take off was eventually moved to an open terminal and passengers were able to deboard the aircraft. Luckily, the fire only significantly delayed that one flight. The waiting time was in accordance with the FAA's three-hour tarmac limit. Under the rule, a plane must allow passengers to get off the aircraft if it does not take off three hours after the cabin door closes.
These safety rules are important because delayed flights can have a negative effect on passengers. Transportation Nation reported many people have fears and phobias of flying and enclosed spaces. Thus, being stuck on a delayed plane can result in extremely uncomfortable passengers.
In an interview with the source, Kathleen Caggiano said she loves to travel but has experienced panic attacks on planes caused by her fear of small places. One way Caggiano copes with her fear is through breathing exercises, which ward off panic attacks and prevent her from physically responding to the fear. If a passenger were to have a panic attack on a plane, the pilot should have pilot insurance in case the panic attack results in a medical emergency or causes a harmful disruption to the flight.
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