Dakar, Senegal – A harrowing incident unfolded at the airport in Senegal’s capital when a Boeing 737-300 plane carrying 85 people skidded off the runway, resulting in injuries to 10 individuals. The distressing scene was captured by Malian musician Cheick Siriman Sissoko, who shared footage on social media showing passengers escaping the burning aircraft through emergency slides amidst screams of panic. The Air Sénégal flight, operated by TransAir, was en route to Bamako, Mali, with 79 passengers, two pilots, and four cabin crew on board, according to Transport Minister El Malick Ndiaye.

Following the incident, the injured were promptly taken to a hospital for treatment, while the remaining passengers were accommodated in a hotel. The airport was temporarily closed overnight, but operations resumed the following morning. Notably, this was the third incident involving a Boeing aircraft that week, as a separate plane in Turkey safely evacuated 190 individuals after a tire burst during landing at a southern airport.

Boeing has faced mounting scrutiny in recent times, particularly since a door plug blew out of a Boeing 737 Max during an Alaska Airlines flight in January, prompting regulatory action from the Federal Aviation Administration. The company was given a strict deadline to address quality concerns and adhere to safety regulations following the disturbing incident. Furthermore, the tragic crashes of two Boeing 737 Max jets in 2018 and 2019 that claimed 346 lives have cast a shadow over the aviation giant, with families of the victims seeking accountability through legal avenues.

Citing concerns over manufacturing practices, a Boeing whistleblower testified before Congress in April, raising alarms about potential safety risks associated with production shortcuts. The Aviation Safety Network, a watchdog group that monitors air accidents, identified the damaged plane as a Boeing 737-38J, sharing images of the aircraft surrounded by fire suppressant foam in a grassy field. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of stringent safety measures in the aviation industry.