Smoke in Cockpit Prompts Emergency Landing

[Fly4Pay]

From http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/...n3774266.shtml

Smoke In Cockpit Prompts Emergency Landing
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Jan. 31, 2008(CBS/AP) Smoke filled the cockpit of an American Airlines flight from Puerto Rico on Wednesday, forcing an emergency landing, an airport official said.

CBS station WFOR-TV reports that seven people - the pilot, co-pilot, three flight attendants and two passengers - suffered injuries and were rushed to a Florida hospital.

None of the injuries was considered life threatening, WFOR reported.

The plane had left San Juan for Philadelphia and landed safely at Palm Beach International Airport, said Casandra Davis, an airport spokeswoman.

American Airlines spokeswoman Mary Frances Fagan said the captain reported smoke in the cockpit about two hours into the trip of Flight 1738.

As the plane made its descent into the airport in West Palm Beach, the inner window pane cracked and sprayed glass into the cockpit. The outer window pane was not damaged and the plane did not lose cabin pressure, she said.

One passenger told WFOR, "They turned off the lights and the flight attendants began to check if there was any fire in the cabin. There was no fire, but later we were told there was smoke in the cockpit, and they briefed us on the emergency landing procedures - both on the ground and water."

The plane, a Boeing 757, carried 139 passengers and a crew of seven.

Fagan said another plane was being brought in from Fort Lauderdale to complete the flight to Philadelphia. Passengers were expected to arrive at their destination after two o'clock in the morning.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating.

Given the broken inner pane, sounds like a window heat problem...

[Mad Doggy Dog]

Jan 31st, 2008
Rueters


An American Airlines jet made an emergency landing in West Palm Beach, Florida, due to reported smoke in the cockpit and cabin. No major injuries have been reported, but several passengers and the flight crew were taken to the hospital for observation.

A FAA investigation of the incident revealed that a medical marijuana vending machine onboard the airplane had malfunctioned. An electrical short circuit caused to contents of the machine to begin smoldering.

Airport rescue personnel boarded to the stricken airliner only to find the pilots snarfing down bags of pretzels, chips and cookies. The passengers were found still seated, staring intensly at the inflight entertainment TV monitors, watching Sponge Bob Square Pants.

In a statement from Elizabeth Dole, the former transportation secretary under President Regan who instituted drug testing for airline employees, she said: "Marijuana smoke can cause intoxication and a feeling of euphoria that is...............that is............absolutely freaking great.............awesome.........yeah!"

American Airlines is investigating the incident and has refused to comment at this time

.

[Cptnchia]

So I can understand why the pilots were taken to the hospital due to getting pelted with glass particles, but why the FAs and paxs? Did they evacuate the aircraft?

[JEP]

************************************************** ******************************
** Report created 1/31/2008 Record 7 **
************************************************** ******************************

IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: AAL1738 Make/Model: B757 Description: B-757
Date: 01/31/2008 Time: 0200

Event Type: Incident Highest Injury: None Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Unknown

LOCATION
City: WEST PALM BEACH State: FL Country: US

DESCRIPTION
AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT 1738, A BOEING 757 AIRCRAFT, DECLARED AN EMERGENCY
AND DIVERTED DUE TO SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT AND CABIN, AIRCRAFT LANDED WITHOUT
INCIDENT, SIX PERSONS ON BOARD WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL WITH
UNKNOWN INJURIES, NO FIRE WAS REPORTED, WEST PALM BEACH, FL

INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
# Crew: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk: 5
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk: 1
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:

WEATHER: NOT REPORTED

OTHER DATA
Activity: Business Phase: Unknown Operation: Air Carrier


FAA FSDO: SOUTH FLORIDA, FL (SO19) Entry date: 01/31/2008

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by Mad Doggy Dog

A FAA investigation of the incident revealed that a medical marijuana vending machine onboard the airplane had malfunctioned.