Cargo loader catches fire at Hong Kong airport

A cargo loader lifting a pallet onto an American Airlines’ Boeing 777-300ER at the Hong Kong International Airport caught on fire Monday, resulting in one injury and the plane being taken out of service for inspection, multiple media outlets reported.    A cargo loader next to an American Airlines’ Boeing 777-300ER caught on fire at Hong Kong International Airport on Monday, injuring the cargo loader operator, according to reports from multiple news outlets.
   According to reports, the fire started as a cargo pallet was set to be loaded onto the Boeing 777-300ER. The plane was sitting at the gate preparing for American Airlines Flight 192 to Los Angeles was consequently canceled and the aircraft was taken out of service. Its passengers have been transferred to other flights.
   “An external piece of loading equipment had a mechanical issue and caught fire while preparing to put cargo in the hold of American Airlines flight 192 from Hong Kong (HKG) to Los Angeles (LAX),” an American Airlines representative told Business Insider in an email statement. “As a result, a pallet on the loading equipment containing non-hazardous goods also caught fire.”
   The airline and its local ramp-service vendor are investigating the cause of the malfunction. No other crew members or passengers were injured. “The operator of loading equipment is being looked after by medical professionals with non-life threatening injuries,” American Airlines said.