Total Linhas Aéreas 737 Freighter Catches Fire After Emergency Landing

Total Linhas Aéreas flight TTL5682 operated by a Boeing 737-400SF freighter caught fire shortly after landing at São Paulo International Airport in Guarulhos (SP). The aircraft, registered as PS-TLB, was en route from Vitória (ES) on flight TTL5682 and landed at 00:42 on November 9 on runway 28L. Firefighters were on high alert near the runway as the plane approached, prepared for a potential emergency.

Fire Breaks Out and Immediate Response

Just moments after touchdown, the aircraft became stationary on the runway at approximately 00:44. An air traffic controller in the Control Tower reported seeing flames emanating from the plane and confirmed that firefighters were already on the scene, working to extinguish the fire. In response, the pilots quickly shut down the engines to allow firefighters to carry out their work safely.

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In a tense exchange, the controller attempted to communicate with the pilots regarding an evacuation, but he received no response. To keep the pilots informed, the controller reported that firefighters had placed chocks around the aircraft’s wheels to prevent any movement during the firefighting efforts.

BREAKING⚠️: Total Linhas Aéreas flight TTL5682 operated by a Boeing 737-400SF freighter caught fire shortly after landing at São Paulo International Airport in Guarulhos (SP). pic.twitter.com/kgqdhOP8C8
— Aviation for Aviators (@Aviaforaviators) November 9, 2024

By 00:49, the controller informed a nearby aircraft that both runways at Guarulhos were temporarily closed due to Total Linhas Aéreas Fire. During this time, the pilots managed to safely exit the aircraft, utilizing an escape rope to descend from the cockpit window.

Visible Damage and Safety Measures

Images from the scene reveal significant burn marks on the fuselage, although the extent of structural damage remains unknown. Thankfully, preliminary reports confirm that both pilots safely evacuated the aircraft without injury. Early indications suggest that the fire may have broken out onboard during the flight, prompting the emergency landing.

Despite the critical situation, operations at São Paulo International Airport were only briefly affected. As the airport is equipped with two runways, the secondary runway was cleared relatively quickly to resume regular landings and takeoffs.

Total Linhas Aéreas Fire Aircraft

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The freighter involved in this incident, PS-TLB, is part of Total Linhas Aéreas’ fleet of four Boeing 737-400SF aircraft, which includes registrations PS-TLE, PS-TLA, PS-TLB, and PS-TLF. These planes have an average age of 28.2 years. Notably, PS-TLB was originally manufactured in April 1994 and has a varied service history, having flown for Turkish Airlines, Pegasus, Enter Air, and ASL Airlines before joining TOTAL’s fleet in May 2024.