Emirates plane forced return

[mackie_1951]

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/5083474/emirates-plane-forced-return-perth/

An Air Emirates flight to Dubai has landed safely after returning to Perth amid reports of an on-board emergency.
Flight EK425, which had 120 passengers on board, landed safely at 8.50am (WST) after leaving Perth International Airport at 6.30am.
Westralia Airports Corporation spokesman Malcolm Bradshaw said he could not confirm reports the plane's pilots had reported smoke in the cockpit of the plane.
He said emergency vehicles and fire crews had been alerted when the airport's emergency system was activated, but were not required to respond to an emergency.
He said the aircraft had been making a direct flight to Dubai.
"The plane informed air traffic control it was returning and the plane landed safely. All passengers and crew are safe," Mr Bradshaw said.

[mackie_1951]

Looks like there might have been smoke in the cabin

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/16/2392887.htm?section=justin

Plane make emergency landing at Perth Airport

Posted 17 minutes ago
An Emirates plane has landed safely after a mid-air drama. (WA Government)

• Map: Perth 6000

An Emirates aircraft which was experiencing mid-air problems has landed safely at Perth International Airport.
It is understood the aircraft with 121 people on board left Perth at 6.00 am for Dubai.
It is understood part of the cabin filled with smoke shortly after take off and was forced to return to Perth International Airport just before 9.00am.
Fire and ambulance officers remained on standby at the airport as the plane landed safely.

[ptbodale]

A light load eh.

[mackie_1951]

Plenty of room to move around on that flight

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/10/16/1223750205494.html

A "burning smell" forced the emergency landing of an Emirates flight with 120 passengers on board at Perth International Airport today.
- Flight turns back
- 'Burning smell'
- Police board plane

The crew of the Dubai-bound Airbus A340 called an in-flight emergency to air traffic control about 7.50am. The plane landed safely at the airport about 8.45am.

An Emirates spokeswoman said a "burning smell" was detected on the plane.

Prominent businessman Michael Chaney, the chairman of Woodside Petroleum and NAB, who was the first passenger to pass through customs after disembarking the flight, said smoke had been seen inside the cabin.

"There was a bit of smoke in the cabin and we turned around and came back," Mr Chaney said.

But Emirates denied the presence of any smoke, and this claim was backed up by passenger David Cairns, who was also on the flight.

Mr Cairns was sitting in business class of Flight EK425 with his wife when passengers and staff at the rear of the plane noticed an unusual odour.

"They were worried that it might be the initiation of a fire or some electrical problem," Mr Cairns said.

"They checked it out and then the captain came on the microphone and said there were no longer odours and we were going to carry on.

"Then about 40 minutes later the captain came back on and said they had smelt the odours again and had decided in the interests of safety to come back to Perth and check the plane out."

Mr Cairns said while some passengers were worried, there was no panic. He said at no time was there any smoke or fire on board.

"I was sitting up the front in business class and there were no issues up there. The problem was at the rear of the plane," he said.

Passengers had quickly disembarked through the front exit, leaving hand luggage on board once the plane had landed.

They could see emergency fire trucks at the scene, and were waiting at the airport as engineers checked the plane over.

"They had the emergency services out here just in case there was a fire," Mr Cairns said.

After the stress of the incident, Mr Cairns hoped he and his wife could continue their journey to the Maldives and finally begin their relaxing holiday.

"The pilot did the right thing," Mr Cairns said.

"I would hate for something to have happened in the middle of the Indian Ocean."

Two nuns from the Presentation Sisters Order in Lesmurdie who were on the flight were travelling to The Vatican to meet with The Pope.

"We will come back tonight at 10.30pm to get the next plane. We are certain that he (The Pope) will be waiting for us," Sister Benedict said.

The passengers on Flight EK425 disembarked about 9am. The flight had left Perth for Dubai at 6.01am.

Emergency services workers and several police officers then boarded the plane. It has been parked away from the main terminal while it is being examined by engineers, who are investigating the cause of the smell.

Passengers will collect their baggage and either be sent home or to a hotel while a rescheduled flight is arranged.

The Emirates spokeswoman said they would be rescheduled on another Emirates flight later today.

"Safety was not compromised at any point," she said.
- WA Today

A "burning smell" forced the emergency landing of an Emirates flight with 120 passengers on board at Perth International Airport today.
- Flight turns back
- 'Burning smell'
- Police board plane

The crew of the Dubai-bound Airbus A340 called an in-flight emergency to air traffic control about 7.50am. The plane landed safely at the airport about 8.45am.

An Emirates spokeswoman said a "burning smell" was detected on the plane.

Prominent businessman Michael Chaney, the chairman of Woodside Petroleum and NAB, who was the first passenger to pass through customs after disembarking the flight, said smoke had been seen inside the cabin.

"There was a bit of smoke in the cabin and we turned around and came back," Mr Chaney said.

But Emirates denied the presence of any smoke, and this claim was backed up by passenger David Cairns, who was also on the flight.

Mr Cairns was sitting in business class of Flight EK425 with his wife when passengers and staff at the rear of the plane noticed an unusual odour.

"They were worried that it might be the initiation of a fire or some electrical problem," Mr Cairns said.

"They checked it out and then the captain came on the microphone and said there were no longer odours and we were going to carry on.

"Then about 40 minutes later the captain came back on and said they had smelt the odours again and had decided in the interests of safety to come back to Perth and check the plane out."

Mr Cairns said while some passengers were worried, there was no panic. He said at no time was there any smoke or fire on board.

"I was sitting up the front in business class and there were no issues up there. The problem was at the rear of the plane," he said.

Passengers had quickly disembarked through the front exit, leaving hand luggage on board once the plane had landed.

They could see emergency fire trucks at the scene, and were waiting at the airport as engineers checked the plane over.

"They had the emergency services out here just in case there was a fire," Mr Cairns said.

After the stress of the incident, Mr Cairns hoped he and his wife could continue their journey to the Maldives and finally begin their relaxing holiday.

"The pilot did the right thing," Mr Cairns said.

"I would hate for something to have happened in the middle of the Indian Ocean."

Two nuns from the Presentation Sisters Order in Lesmurdie who were on the flight were travelling to The Vatican to meet with The Pope.

"We will come back tonight at 10.30pm to get the next plane. We are certain that he (The Pope) will be waiting for us," Sister Benedict said.

The passengers on Flight EK425 disembarked about 9am. The flight had left Perth for Dubai at 6.01am.

Emergency services workers and several police officers then boarded the plane. It has been parked away from the main terminal while it is being examined by engineers, who are investigating the cause of the smell.

Passengers will collect their baggage and either be sent home or to a hotel while a rescheduled flight is arranged.

The Emirates spokeswoman said they would be rescheduled on another Emirates flight later today.

"Safety was not compromised at any point," she said.
- WA Today