Watch CBS News

Heat-Sensing Technology Not On SFO Rig That Killed Plane Crash Passenger

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- A San Francisco newspaper reports the fire rig that ran over and killed a 16-year-old Asiana Airlines crash survivor was not equipped with heat sensing equipment that might have saved her life.

The San Francisco Chronicle story says fire officials acknowledge the older-model engine that ran over Ye Meng Yuan did not have the forward-looking infrared technology.

According to the newspaper, the technology measures heat given off by objects on the ground and is now required on all new aircraft rescue trucks.

Authorities have said Yuan was covered in fire retardant foam when the rig hit her. Fire officials say it's not clear whether the infrared technology would have prevented her death. But experts say the technology was developed to detect humans.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.