Engine fire forces emergency landing
WebPosted Dec 5 2001 09:04 PM CST


Whitehorse, Yukon - An Air Canada jet with nearly a hundred people on board and only one engine made an emergency landing in Whitehorse Thursday afternoon.

'Everyone was trying to think that maybe this was normal.'– Barbara Bergman
Flight 3583 departed from Whitehorse Thursday afternoon at about noon local time, destined for Vancouver. A few minutes after takeoff, the pilot was forced to return to the airport.

Air Canada spokesperson Charlotte Wardell says loud noises and flames started coming out of one of the engines.

"There was a problem with one of the engines that resulted in having to turn the aircraft back to the airport to take that aircraft out of commission," she said. "We're evaluating that right now. The passengers on board probably experienced some loud noises."

Passenger Barbara Bergman had a perfect view of the faulty engine.

"There was a loud bang, and then the engine which I was sitting right over, flames were coming out, and then there was another bang and more flames, and then another bang and then we were up in the air," she said. "Everyone was a little unnerved but everyone was trying to think that maybe this was normal."

Bergman says the plane took about an hour to return to the Whitehorse airport.

Wardell says the plane will stay on the ground in Whitehorse until a safety check has been completed.

The flight has now been cancelled. Some of the Vancouver passengers were booked on an afternoon flight. Wardell says the airline will try and fly the balance of the passengers tomorrow on a space available basis.