Boeing 757 incident near Jamaica, New York, July 7, 2016
On July 7, 2016 at about 1:07 pm local time, a 1997 Boeing 757, registered N706TW, suffered minor damage in an incident during initial climb near Jamaica, New York (John F Kennedy Intl airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 157 people were on board or involved. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Maintenance personnel's failure to ensure proper installation of a fuel tube O-ring, which resulted in an undercowl engine fire during initial climb.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 2016 · about 1:07 pm local time
- Place
- Jamaica, New York · John F Kennedy Intl · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 157 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Boeing 757 2Q8, built 1997 · all 757s on the register
- Registration
- N706TW · registry record · serial 28165
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
An O-ring was severed when being installed on a fuel tube during maintenance. The damage degraded the O-ring sealing function at the right engine FFT-to-fuel OUT tube flange. During the next takeoff, high-pressure fuel flowed past the damaged seal and sprayed into the engine core compartment. The fuel contacted hot engine surfaces and ignited. The right nacelle fire detection system detected the fire and a right engine fire warning alerted in the cockpit. The flight crew shut down the right engine, which cut off the engine fuel supply. The fire extinguished after the fuel supply was stopped. The fire damaged the right engine external components and burned through the right nacelle inboard core cowl.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during prior to flight
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during initial climb
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during initial climb defining event
- Engine shutdown during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel indicating system › Incorrect service/maintenance
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel indicating system › Related maintenance info
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel indicating system › Damaged/degraded
The aircraft
- Seats: 168
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: P & W PW2037 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: P & W PW2037 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Delta Air Lines INC
The flight
- Departed from: JFK New York NY
- Destination: SAN San Diego CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 4 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 151 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on July 12, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation - Dal | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation - P&w | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Evidence Control Form - Wreckage Release Form | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Jfk Airport Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Powerplants Factual Report | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Technical Data Sheet Fluorosilicone Elastomer, Fvmq | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Parker O-ring Handbook Pages 3-4 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Materials Laboratory O-ring Analysis | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.