Investigation Summary
The incident was initiated by a 104-pound fiber drum containing textile treatment chemicals, which had been loaded as undeclared freight. Inside the drum were five gallons of hydrogen peroxide solution (an oxidizer), 25 pounds of a sodium orthosilicate-based mixture, and a 20-pound cylinder of oxygen. The drum was placed on its side in the cargo hold, allowing the hydrogen peroxide to leak and mix with the sodium orthosilicate. This chemical reaction produced significant heat, which compromised the structural integrity of the cabin floor directly above the cargo hold. Passengers and crew reported a haze, an irritating odor, and a floor that felt soft and hot to the touch. A deadheading Boeing 727 first officer assisted the cabin crew, confirming that the floor was 'dropping out slightly' and urging the cockpit to expedite the landing. The captain, influenced by a previous mechanical issue involving auxiliary power unit (APU) fumes, initially downplayed the reports as mere fumes rather than a fire, delaying the declaration of an emergency until after touchdown.
Final Conclusions
The NTSB determined the probable cause was a chemical reaction resulting from a hydrogen peroxide solution, in a concentration prohibited for air transportation, which leaked and combined with a sodium orthosilicate-based mixture from an undeclared and improperly prepared container. The investigation highlighted failures in the hazardous materials reporting chain and the flight crew's delayed recognition of the emergency. The aircraft, N569AA, suffered minor damage to the floor and cargo area but was repaired and returned to service.
Video Analysis
How Laundry Supplies Almost Crashed A Passenger Jet — A detailed look at American Airlines Flight 132, where improperly stored textile chemicals caused a dangerous in-flight fire that nearly melted the cabin floor.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Cargo Compartment
The mid-cargo hold was a Class D compartment, designed to suppress fire by oxygen deprivation, but it lacked active fire detection or suppression systems.
Cabin Floor
The floor panels above the cargo hold were constructed of materials that softened and lost structural integrity when exposed to the intense heat of the chemical reaction.
Interesting Facts
- 01The hazardous materials were undeclared and improperly packaged in a fiber drum.
- 02The hydrogen peroxide solution was in a concentration prohibited for air transport.
- 03A deadheading pilot in the cabin played a critical role in communicating the severity of the floor damage to the cockpit.
- 04The aircraft was a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 (DC-9-83) delivered in 1987.
- 05The fire was smoldering and produced thick white and black smoke but no large open flames until the cargo door was opened.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Hazardous Materials Regulation Reform
The incident led to FAA proposals for stricter regulations on the transport of hazardous materials, though many were not fully implemented until after the ValuJet 592 crash in 1996.
Location
APPROXIMATE POSITION · AIRPORT LEVEL · Coordinates are the estimate published in the wikipedia geotag. The ring shows the accuracy the record supports, not the point of impact.