Explosion jolts Lihu'e-bound flight

By Walter Wright
Advertiser Staff Writer

A United Airlines Boeing 757 preparing to leave San Francisco for Lihu'e yesterday was shaken by a small explosion in a cargo container possibly caused by a computer battery pack in some electronic testing equipment, officials said.

Passengers aboard United Flight 33, which had originated in Los Angeles at 6:20 a.m., were evacuated from the aircraft and given alternate arrangements after the explosion sent a shudder through the plane and the attached walkway at about 9:15 a.m.

The explosion startled passengers, but there was no panic, and no one was injured.

A baggage handler was shaken up, but declined medical treatment, airport spokesman Mike McCarron said.

"As the baggage handler was moving bags around the cargo hold, one of the packed shipping containers exploded, a minor explosion, and blew the hinges off" the container, McCarron said.

He said the container was well padded and insulated and that the explosion probably would not have caused any damage to the aircraft even if it had occurred when the plane was airborne.

The package was in the luggage of an avionics company employee who had flown from Salt Lake City to catch the flight to Lihu'e.

Although there was no indication of terrorism or foul play, officials detained the passenger and questioned him, McCarron said.

"They don't expect anything unusual," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Reach Walter Wright at wwright@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8054.