El Al B772 Near Billings on Nov. 15, 2015, Engine Fire Indication

An El Al Boeing 777-200, registration 4X-ECA performing flight LY-5 from Tel Aviv (Israel) to Los Angeles, CA (U.S.) with 297 people on board, was enroute at FL360 about 200nm east of Billings, MT (U.S.) when the crew received a fire indication for the right hand engine (Trent 895), worked the related memory items shutting the engine down and discharging the fire agent, and decided to divert to Billings.

Billings Air Traffic Control queried with airport authority whether Billings could accept a Boeing 777 for an emergency landing, the airport authority affirmed. The crew requested a low pass to have a look at the engine and check whether there was any further damage, they had a continuous fire indication. In advising emergency services ATC suspected the current darkness may prevent the crew to assess the status from the cabin. Emergency services prepared for a low approach to runway 28R taking their positions on (crossing) runway 25 to check the right hand wing, engine and side of the aircraft. While intercepting the localizer for runway 28R the crew decided to go for a full stop landing right away and landed safely on runway 28R about 38 minutes after leaving FL360.

The crew requested emergency services to check the right hand engine, emergency services reported they did not see any flames, smoke or other indications of fire (excessive temperature ...). The crew therefore decided to taxi the aircraft to the apron, where the passengers disembarked normally.