A Japan Airlines flight has been grounded at Los Angeles airport after a large object was sucked into one of the plane’s engines, officials say.

They say the incident happened as JAL flight 62 was leaving one of the airport’s gates.

Television footage showed the object – believed to be a cargo container – wedged into the engine.

All 245 passengers on board were taken off the plane and escorted to the terminal. No injuries were reported.

I love the last thing these articles always say – “An investigation is under way”.

No kidding. Do we think the bloody box jumped up into the air on its own and tried to commit suicide by leaping into the engine?




  1. Stu Mulne says:

    Those big engines can suck up a Crown Vic….

    The real question is how did that container get someplace where it would be close enough….

  2. aby says:

    http://www.tradestead.com

  3. John Paradox says:

    Well, there’s another bit for the Mythbusters.
    They already did the ‘airliner blows car off road’ in a previous episode.

    J/P=?

  4. Marketing says:

    Not a marketing video to reassure you of the safety and service levels of Japan Air
    The video make it looks as if this is standard levels of service
    Where are the lovely stewardesses looking cute and serving drinks ?

  5. BubbaRay says:

    Each Pratt & Whitney PW 4062 on the 747-400 can generate 63,300 lbs. of thrust, and with an 8′ 6″ wide nacelle is certainly capable of sucking up a minivan. Obviously the container was empty or close to it but still, who left the darned thing on the tarmac? Someone’s going home with an empty pay envelope.

  6. Jetfire says:

    “Do we think the bloody box jumped up into the air on its own and tried to commit suicide by leaping into the engine?”

    Yes, I do. How would fell being stuff full of crap day in and day out. Shoved into a dark hole with no heat for hours at a time. It just couldn’t take it anymore.

  7. Dallas says:

    Engineers did not account for something=g that large to throw in the engine.

    The largest item pushed through during certification was a replica of Rush Limbaugh.

  8. Who carezzz says:

    What a waste of my viewing time.

  9. chuck says:

    Good news, Mr Dvorak, we’ve found your luggage!

  10. Faxon says:

    What I find amusing is the two cop cars in the foreground. Why do the cops have to stick their noses into what is obviously a non threatening accident involving an empty container and an aircraft engine? Because cops are, basically, intrusive and looking for people to push around.

  11. cmon says:

    Wow, that’s impressive FOD.

  12. KD Martin says:

    #11, it’s tough to find FOD like those spare bolts and nuts when you have to walk around a darned baggage carrier.

  13. Olo Baggins of Bywater says:

    #3, there’s video somewhere of a person getting sucked into a fighter jet intake. IIRC he survived.

  14. AdmFubar says:

    JAL is now know as bonzai airlines

  15. Nimby says:

    Eidard: “Do we think the bloody box jumped up into the air on its own and tried to commit suicide by leaping into the engine?” Suicide? I think not. Just another case of immaculate convection.

    (Sorry, but you know what they say; “Nothing Venturied nothing planed.”

  16. m.c. in l.v. says:

    Ladies & Gentlemen, put your hands together for Nimby! He’ll be here all week. Please remember to tip your waiter or waitress. Have a safe ride home. Thank you, good night!

  17. KD Martin says:

    #15, Nimby,

    Aaaarrrrggggghhhh!

  18. Cap'nKangaroo says:

    Yes, it did just jump into the engine. Look close and you can read “Al Qaeda Airlines” on the container.

  19. Mr. Fusion says:

    I knew a girl that could do that. She was pretty popular with the guys too.

  20. Is it my imagination or were they still waving the plane on? Did they attempt to take off this way? The video ended before anyone solved the problem.

  21. #19 – Mr. Fusion,

    I think I wouldn’t want quite that much suction. This goes way beyond the old golf ball through thirty yards of garden hose joke.

  22. noname says:

    Opps, did I do that?

  23. yankinwaoz says:

    It was a cargo container of Canadian Geese.

  24. WmDE says:

    #10 The cops may be there because it was an intentional act.

    Some may have committed the crime of iFOD.

  25. Mr Diesel says:

    #15 for the win

  26. yo says:

    Obviously the container was empty or close to it but still.


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