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JAL Engine Incident Proves Airlines Do Eat Your Luggage

We're not the only ones who get sucked in by the airlines checked baggage fees. Apparently, luggage containers are now a target too. At LAX yesterday, 250 passengers were evacuated from a Japan Airlines jet after a metal luggage container got sucked into the jet's engine as it was preparing for take-off. The LA Times reports:

The accident occurred about 1:30 p.m. when Flight 61 to Narita, Japan, pulled back from Gate 101 at the Tom Bradley International Terminal. Airport officials said the vacuum created by the air intake of the left outboard engine was so strong it pulled the empty container off a baggage cart that was either parked or driven too close to the aircraft.

The passengers and crew were all fine and other flight arrangements were made as the airplane was taken to a hangar for evaluation. While JAL does allow its economy class passengers to check two bags for free on flights to and out of the US, they recently put in place a new policy that will charge you $50 if your bag weighs more than 50 pounds (previously, 70 pounds was the limit.) Hopefully, anyone who had to pay the excess baggage fee on this aborted flight will get it free the next time around.

Related Stories:
· Metal baggage container sucked into jet engine at LAX [LA Times]

[Photo: MyFoxLA.com]