What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On 04/19/98 at 2030 CST, while parked at gate L6, flt # 1625 experienced an uncommanded/unwarranted passenger evacuation. The flight crew was in process of starting the apv when a passenger observed flames emitting from the apv exhause and screamed "fire". The evacuation was initiated by the passengers via the overwing exit, rear-airstair door and main entry door jetbridge. Three passengers who exited on to the wing were injured when they jumped off the wing. One received a broken arm while the other two received minor leg and ankle injuries.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON 04/19/98 AT 2030 CST, WHILE PARKED AT GATE L6, FLT # 1625 EXPERIENCED AN UNCOMMANDED/UNWARRANTED PASSENGER EVACUATION. THE FLIGHT CREW WAS IN PROCESS OF STARTING THE APV WHEN A PASSENGER OBSERVED FLAMES EMITTING FROM THE APV EXHAUSE AND SCREAMED "FIRE". THE EVACUATION WAS INITIATED BY THE PASSENGERS VIA THE OVERWING EXIT, REAR-AIRSTAIR DOOR AND MAIN ENTRY DOOR JETBRIDGE. THREE PASSENGERS WHO EXITED ON TO THE WING WERE INJURED WHEN THEY JUMPED OFF THE WING. ONE RECEIVED A BROKEN ARM WHILE THE OTHER TWO RECEIVED MINOR LEG AND ANKLE INJURIES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.