KLM Boeing 777-200 Cargo Fire Indication near Ankara on May 6th, 2024

On the 6th of May 2024, a KLM Boeing 777-200, registration PH-BQB, operating flight KL-895 from Amsterdam, Netherlands, to Shanghai, China, experienced a forward cargo fire indication while enroute at FL330 (33,000 feet) approximately 140 nautical miles north-northeast of Ankara, Turkey. Following the indication, the flight crew made the decision to divert to Ankara Esenboğa Airport, where the aircraft landed safely on runway 03R. Emergency services were deployed but found no evidence of fire, heat, or smoke upon inspection. The aircraft remained on the ground for approximately six hours before returning to Amsterdam. The remainder of the rotation was subsequently cancelled.

Event Sequence:

• Enroute and Fire Indication: The Boeing 777-200 was in cruise at FL330, following its route from Amsterdam to Shanghai, when the flight crew received a forward cargo fire warning on their instrumentation. Cargo fire warnings are taken extremely seriously in aviation, as fires in cargo compartments can rapidly become uncontrollable if not addressed. The fire suppression system for cargo holds on the aircraft is designed to discharge extinguishing agents automatically or manually upon detecting heat or smoke, but immediate diversion is always the safest course of action.
• Crew Actions and Decision to Divert: Upon receiving the cargo fire indication, the flight crew initiated a swift diversion to the nearest suitable airport, Ankara Esenboğa Airport. The crew communicated their situation to air traffic control, requesting priority handling and preparing the aircraft for a possible emergency landing. The crew followed standard emergency protocols, including notifying the cabin crew and passengers of the situation, securing the aircraft, and preparing for a safe landing. The flight made a controlled descent and approached Ankara, landing safely on runway 03R about 25 minutes after the decision to divert.
• Emergency Response and Inspection: After landing, the aircraft was met by Ankara Airport’s emergency response teams, who were prepared to deal with any potential fire in the forward cargo hold. However, after conducting a thorough inspection, emergency services found no signs of fire, heat, or smoke. The absence of any visible fire damage suggested that the cargo fire indication may have been a false alarm, possibly triggered by a sensor malfunction or other technical issue within the fire detection system.

Post-Landing Actions:

• Grounding and Further Inspections: Following the initial inspection by emergency services, the aircraft remained on the ground in Ankara for approximately six hours. During this time, KLM’s maintenance teams worked to diagnose the cause of the fire indication. Given the critical nature of such warnings, thorough checks were carried out on the cargo compartment’s fire detection and suppression systems. It is likely that the aircraft’s forward cargo bay was inspected for any potential faults in the sensors or wiring that could have caused the fire indication to trigger falsely.
• Return to Amsterdam and Cancellation of Rotation: After completing the necessary inspections and determining that it was safe to proceed, the aircraft departed Ankara and returned to its base in Amsterdam, rather than continuing the journey to Shanghai. The return flight marked the cancellation of the original rotation for KL-895, and the passengers were likely rebooked on alternative flights.

Technical Considerations:

Cargo fire indications in modern aircraft are triggered by highly sensitive detection systems that monitor for heat, smoke, or other indicators of combustion within the cargo hold. In this incident, the absence of any actual fire or heat suggests that the fire warning was likely caused by a sensor fault or a false alarm. Such malfunctions, though rare, can occur due to wiring issues, faulty sensors, or external environmental factors that may interfere with the detection systems.

The Boeing 777-200 is equipped with advanced fire suppression systems that automatically or manually discharge fire retardant into the cargo hold if a fire is detected. In this case, the crew’s decision to divert was appropriate, as fire detection warnings must always be treated with the utmost seriousness to ensure the safety of the aircraft and its occupants.

Conclusion:

The cargo fire indication on KLM flight KL-895 from Amsterdam to Shanghai led to a prudent diversion to Ankara, where the aircraft landed safely and was thoroughly inspected. The absence of any signs of fire or heat upon inspection suggested that the fire indication was likely a false alarm. However, the crew’s quick decision-making and adherence to safety protocols ensured that the situation was handled professionally and without incident.

The aircraft remained grounded in Ankara for six hours while undergoing inspections before returning to Amsterdam. The cancellation of the flight’s rotation underscores the airline’s commitment to ensuring that all technical issues were fully resolved before the aircraft was returned to service. The incident serves as a reminder of the critical role of onboard fire detection systems and the importance of taking all warnings seriously to safeguard passengers and crew.