Goglia stated that there is insufficient real-world evidence to determine whether composite skins are more or less effective than aluminum in resisting fire and heat long enough for passengers to escape.
Aircraft manufacturers are required to demonstrate that their planes can be evacuated in 90 seconds, even with half the exits blocked. However, skepticism exists regarding the reliability of tests conducted by the U.S. government.
On Tuesday night, video footage captured a fireball on the Japan Airlines (JAL) plane as it continued down the runway after the crash.
Aviation attorney Justin Green acknowledged the need to address the flammability issue but emphasized that despite the incident, there were no fatalities due to burns. He highlighted the protective role played by the fuselage, seats (made of fire-retardant material), and other components in safeguarding the flight crew and passengers.
Concerns about toxic smoke arise, with passengers on the JAL plane reporting the cabin filling with thick smoke within minutes. Videos posted by passengers depict individuals using handkerchiefs to cover their mouths and crouching low as they head toward the exits.
There has been longstanding worry about the release of toxic smoke when carbon-reinforced composites burn. The Federal Aviation Administration, since the 1990s, has identified main health hazards from composites in plane crashes, including sharp splinters, fibrous dust, and toxic gases from burning resins.
Todd Curtis, a former Boeing engineer turned safety consultant, emphasized the need for investigators and regulators to monitor potential injuries to passengers or firefighters exposed to toxic smoke from burning composites.
The duration and effort required to extinguish the fire at Haneda Airport were cited as additional concerns by experts. Curtis noted that both the Haneda crash and a 2013 fire on an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787 at London’s Heathrow Airport required more effort to put out compared to typical airliner fires.
The Heathrow incident was attributed to crossed wires in the plane’s emergency locator transmitter, with the resin in the composite material providing fuel for the fire. Curtis expressed ongoing concerns about fuselage fires on the ground and in the air, citing the 2013 incident as a source of unease that persists.