A fire erupted on an American Airlines A320 aircraft prior to departure Wednesday morning, but the blaze was quickly extinguished.
American Airlines Flight 728 to Philadelphia was taxiing to a runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport when flames were reported coming from the auxiliary power unit exhaust in the tail of the Airbus.
Airport spokesman Brian DeRoy told the Associated Press a spark in the auxiliary power unit started a small fire.
The Port of Seattle Fire Department responded and extinguished the fire. Once the aircraft was cleared, the pilot taxied back to the gate.
Fort Worth-based American Airlines said no injuries were reported and none of the 151 passengers or crew of six were evacuated from the aircraft.
According to A320Guide.com, the APU is housed in a fireproof compartment in the tail fuselage.
American Airlines said a maintenance crew in Seattle is inspecting the APU and offered an apology to passengers for the inconvenience.
