US safety investigators on Monday urged quick replacement of light bulbs in the cargo holds of Boeing 777 aircraft after an Emirates flight experienced a fire warning last year.
The heat of a halogen light bulb was found to have ignited a bag when the September 28 flight from Dubai to Singapore diverted to Chennai, India, after discharging a fire extinguishing agent into the cargo hold of the wide-bodied twin jet.
The National Transportation Safety Board said the Federal Aviation Administration planned within six to 12 months to make mandatory a Boeing service bulletin advising operators of the 777 to use cooler incandescent bulbs in the cargo hold.
"The Safety Board agrees with Boeing's and the FAA's planned actions but is concerned that during the time needed for the FAA to issue an (airworthiness directive), a fire risk exists in 777 cargo compartments that warrants more urgent action," the NTSB wrote in a letter to the FAA.
The safety board said the incandescent bulbs could be placed in the existing light fixtures and the work should be done on an "expedited schedule."
It further urged that 777 operators avoid placing material near the cargo compartment ceiling until the halogen bulbs are replaced.
