Plane bursts into flames after landing

The Boeing 737-800 plane flying from Taipei to Okinawa was in the process of being evacuated when the left engine exploded, ripping the plane apart, resulting in injury to a member of the ground crew, according to officials and witnesses.

"I saw several passengers evacuate from the plane using a chute. After a minute or so, I heard the sound of an explosion. It was a big explosion," Tadahiro Hasuo said, as reported in the Sydney Morning Herald.

"After the plane landed, there were flames, and I heard explosions a few times then saw black smoke," an airport worker Hideaki Oyadomari was quoted saying in the report.

"We felt the hot air coming our way."

The flames took approximately an hour to extinguish, after which the charred remains of the jet remained on the tarmac near the terminal; with much of the roof of the plane reportedly destroyed.

Early reports indicated that leaking fuel catching fire may be the cause of the incident.

"We don't have any information that suggests the accident was linked to terrorism. There is a possibility of the engine exploding and catching fire due to a fuel leak," a Naha airport police official told Reuters.

China Airlines said the plane had recently undergone scheduled maintenance.

"Everything was working according to normal procedure. There was nothing wrong during the flight," China Airlines spokesperson said.