BA jet makes emergency landing at Cardiff Airport
29.12.05
A transatlantic passenger jet was forced to land at Cardiff International Airport yesterday due to smoke in the cockpit. The British Airways 747, flying from New York's JFK to Heathrow airport, diverted to Cardiff at about 12:30 and made an emergency landing.
Fire crews were on standby but the plane landed safely. A Cardiff airport spokesman said: 'It was reported that pilots had smelt smoke in the cockpit and the airport was put on full alert. The incident was dealt with by on-site engineers who discovered no fire and the passengers were sent onward to their final destinations by taxi.'
There were 17 crew members aboard the plane but just two passengers. It was the second incident involving the plane in 24 hours. Earlier, the aircraft had suffered a bird strike as it flew into New York. This led to a six-hour delay for the plane at JFK airport. Nearly all the passengers were put on other flights, leaving just two on board the jumbo jet when it was involved in the incident as it headed to the UK.
A BA spokeswoman added: 'There was an indication that there was smoke at the rear of the aircraft. Our engineers are now checking the aircraft.'
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