Metal Baggage Container Sucked Into 747 Engine at LAX

The incident occurred at 1:30 PM PDT when JAL Flight 61 to Narita, Japan, pulled back from Gate 101 at the Tom Bradley International Terminal. A baggage cart that was either parked or driven too close to the aircraft was sucked directly into the left outboard engine.

The baggage cart, as you can see, became lodged in the airliner's engine housing as a result of the accident. JAL took the crippled 747-400 out of service and made other flight arrangements for the 245 passengers and 18 crew members, who were returned to the LAX terminal.

FAA officials continue to examine the jet. You can think of this as an uber-version of a bird being sucked into an engine. Obviously the plane could not be flown in this state.

It seems the LAX baggage accident will, one way or another, be cast as a human error, but for now, the plane is still sitting and being examined.