Two planes catch fire in similar incidents in US

Eight people have been injured after an American Airlines Boeing 767 caught fire following an aborted takeoff at O'Hare international airport in Chicago on Friday.

Flames and thick black smoke could be seen pouring from the aircraft's fuselage as the 170 passengers and crew made their way to safety.

American Airlines flight 383 to Miami reported an “engine-related mechanical issue,” according to the airline. Seven passengers and a flight attendant had suffered minor injuries and had been treated in hospital.

The aircraft had started its take-off run when passengers an explosion was heard and flames were seen.

The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement that the plane made an emergency stop around 2.35pm after a problem during takeoff. An earlier FAA statement said the plane had blown a tire. An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board is underway.

Fedex plane fuselage exploding at the airport right in front of my dads gate pic.twitter.com/bQZAev2qFv

— Alex Robles (@Alex_Robles44) October 28, 2016

In a separate, similar, incident on the same day, a FedEx cargo plane caught fire and exploded on the runway at Ft Lauderdale airport in Florida. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, but a landing gear malfunction is suspected to be a factor. Both pilots reportedly escaped before the explosion of the FedEx cargo plane.