UAE | General
Smell of smoke forces Emirates flight to return and land in Perth
An Emirates aircraft from Australia turned around and landed safely on Thursday after a burning smell was detected on board.
- Agencies
- Published: 11:51 October 16, 2008
- Image Credit: WAtoday.com.au
- Emirates flight EK425 carrying 120 passengers from the western Australia city of Perth to Dubai, UAE, returned to Perth and touched down without incident.
Perth: An Emirates aircraft from Australia turned around and landed safely on Thursday after a burning smell was detected on board, prompting a frantic search by air crew and fear among more than 100 passengers, the airline and witnesses said.
The cause of the problem on the Airbus A340-500 was not immediately known. Aircraft engineers were investigating the cause of the burning smell.
Emirates flight EK425 carrying 120 passengers from the western Australia city of Perth to Dubai, UAE, returned to Perth and touched down without incident about two hours after takeoff.
Passengers said the pilot announced that a smell of smoke had been reported and he was returning to Perth as a precaution. They reported the smell getting stronger after the plane landed.
“When we landed that's when you could really smell it,'' passenger Tracey Corp said.
“The decision to return to Perth was a precautionary measure one and a half hours into the flight and all passengers disembarked normally after the plane landed,'' Emirates said in a statement.
“Emergency services were activated as per standard procedure but were not required. Safety was not compromised at any point,'' it said.
Passengers described seeing air crew rushing through the cabin looking for a possible fire.
Perth resident Sunny Chopra said he did not smell anything unusual but became worried despite assurances offered by a stewardess.
“She said there was nothing to worry about but the way they were running in the plane ... it raised (alarm) bells,'' Chopra said.
The airline said all passengers were being rescheduled on a later Emirates flight.
Westralia Airports Corp. spokesman Malcolm Bradshaw said fire and ambulance crews were mobilized after the airport's emergency systems were triggered, but he was not aware of the nature of the problem on board.
Dubai-based Emirates operates two direct flights a week between Dubai and Perth as well as flights to other Australian cities.
Latest news
- Sharjah boy tops Indian board's class 12 exams
- Dubai number plates auction raises Dh27m
- Youngsters dance and raise cash for charity
- Dubai departments upgrade services
- Get yourself a free test for diabetes
- Ensuring a safety net for intellectual property
- Reader's issue addressed
- 5,552 illegals held in Dubai this year
- Man cleared because he took drugs in France
- Man charged with trafficking women
- Auditors to probe Mizin graft case
- Breaking down cultural barriers with photographs
- Abu Dhabi Crown Prince visits Islamic centre
- Transfusion centre launches new toll free number
- Smart e-Gate system launched
Community Reports
-
Mirror, mirror show me the way
Driver on Salam Street had so many boxes and fruits piled into car, he would not be able to view rear or right side mirrors
-
Parents should be more vigilant
Reader's picture highlights risk of negligence by caretakers
-
Warming up to ‘Mobilise the Earth' theme
Dubai school dedicates a whole week to celebrating Earth Day with can-collection drives, sapling plantation and painting competition among others
-
Drivers using mobiles put others' lives at risk
Speeding is dangerous for the driver and other motorists
