BREAKING: Plane Catches Fire At Florida Airport; 15 Injured, 1 burned

The engine of a commercial passenger plane bound for Caracas, Venezuela, caught fire, burst into flames Thursday at Fort Lauderable-Hollywood International Airport in Florida during takeoff at 3:20 p.m. local time (12:32 p.m. EDT and 1634 GMT).

Initial report says at least 15 people have been injured as they exited the plane using emergency slides. Additional report also update one passenger has been burned in the fire and is in serious condition. All have been taken to Broward Health Medical Center.

Television footage shows thick gray smoke pouring from Boeing 767-200ER surrounded by firefighter’s trucks.

The Federal Aviation Administration said just before the departure the aircraft was leaking fuel. Pilot of other plane noticed the leaking first.

The aircraft was carrying 101 people including crew members.

Passengers described the incidence as a real scare as the engine exploded.

The airport was shut down for about three years.

The Boeing 767-200ER was built in 1986. A total of 65 were built then, but only 7 such age planes are now in service. It was powered by Pratt & Whitney JT90 engines.

Pratt & Whitney is a unit of United Technologies Corp.