--Boundary_(ID_9yUCmnoS/HBWXRYtwmhdPg)
Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable
Alert diverts Airbus to city
The Iberia International Airlines plane, travelling from Chicago and=20
heading for Madrid, makes an emergency landing at London's airport.
JENNIFER O'BRIEN, Free Press Reporter =A0 2003-11-23 06:51:22 =A0
Airport officials scrambled last night to find hotel rooms for more=20
than 100 travellers after an international flight was forced to make an=20=
emergency landing in London. The Spanish-based Iberia International=20
Airlines Airbus was en route from Chicago to Madrid when the smell of=20
"something burning," seeped into the cabin, said passenger Dan Wolf, 18.
Moments later, there was an announcement the plane would be forced to=20
make an emergency landing at London International Airport.
"It was the closest thing to death I've ever experienced, I was totally=20=
scared," Wolf said, speaking to a reporter through the glass of the=20
departure lounge, where passengers were being held until accommodations=20=
could be arranged.
Dozens of emergency workers, including firefighters, paramedics and=20
police responded to London International Airport for the emergency=20
landing which occurred about 8 p.m.
Police scanners buzzed with sirens of emergency vehicles responding to=20=
reports of smoke in the cockpit.
The airbus dumped fuel over Lake Huron, said London fire District Chief=20=
Wayne Norton.
London has only dealt with this situation two or three times before.=20
"Normally, it would have been diverted to Toronto, but because we were=20=
closer, they decided to land here."
More than an hour later, passengers were unloaded into the airport and=20=
most emergency vehicles left the scene.
Estimates of the number of passengers ranged from 139 to 239.
It was not clear last night what the problem was with the airbus, said=20=
London International Airport president Steve Baker, but airport=20
employees were contacting technicians for Iberia International Airlines.
"We are talking with the technical people in Madrid and Miami," said=20
Baker, adding the cause of the smoke was unknown.
Passengers appeared mostly in good spirits as they waited to hear their=20=
fate for their night.
Airport officials provided most of them with refreshments and some=20
spoke into cellphones.
Wolf was playing cards with his father, while his brother, sister and=20
mother lounged on nearby airport benches.
The South Carolina family was travelling to Spain and then Italy for a=20=
family vacation.
"There was a bad smell, like burning wire," he said through the glass.
"Then someone came on the intercom and said 'we have to make an=20
emergency landing.'
"It was really freaky."
Wolf said the plane began to descend immediately, dropping quickly=20
until it made an abrupt stop on the runway in London.
He couldn't recall what people were saying or doing around him, as he=20
was so "freaked out," himself.
"I was so scared," he said. "Really I was."
Copyright =A9 The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
--Boundary_(ID_9yUCmnoS/HBWXRYtwmhdPg)
Content-type: text/enriched; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable
<=
fontfamily><param>Geneva</param><bigger><bigger><bigger><bigger><bigger><b=
igger><bigger><bigger><bigger><bigger>Alert
diverts Airbus to =
city</bigger></bigger></bigger></bigger></bigger></bigger></bigger></bigge=
r></bigger></bigger></fontfamily><fontfamily><param>Arial</param>
=
</fontfamily><fontfamily><param>Geneva</param><bigger><bigger><bigger><big=
ger><bigger><bigger>The
Iberia International Airlines plane, travelling from Chicago and
heading for Madrid, makes an emergency landing at London's =
airport.</bigger></bigger></bigger></bigger></bigger></bigger></fontfamily=
><fontfamily><param>Arial</param>
</fontfamily><fontfamily><param>Geneva</param>JENNIFER O'BRIEN, Free
Press Reporter</fontfamily><fontfamily><param>Arial</param> =A0
</fontfamily><fontfamily><param>Geneva</param>2003-11-23
06:51:22</fontfamily><fontfamily><param>Arial</param> =A0 =
</fontfamily><fontfamily><param>Times New Roman</param><bigger>
</bigger></fontfamily><fontfamily><param>Arial</param> =
</fontfamily><fontfamily><param>Times New Roman</param><bigger>
Airport officials scrambled last night to find hotel rooms for more
than 100 travellers after an international flight was forced to make
an emergency landing in London. The Spanish-based Iberia International
Airlines Airbus was en route from Chicago to Madrid when the smell of
"something burning," seeped into the cabin, said passenger Dan Wolf,
18.=20
Moments later, there was an announcement the plane would be forced to
make an emergency landing at London International Airport.=20
"It was the closest thing to death I've ever experienced, I was
totally scared," Wolf said, speaking to a reporter through the glass
of the departure lounge, where passengers were being held until
accommodations could be arranged.=20
Dozens of emergency workers, including firefighters, paramedics and
police responded to London International Airport for the emergency
landing which occurred about 8 p.m.=20
Police scanners buzzed with sirens of emergency vehicles responding to
reports of smoke in the cockpit.=20
The airbus dumped fuel over Lake Huron, said London fire District
Chief Wayne Norton.=20
London has only dealt with this situation two or three times before.
"Normally, it would have been diverted to Toronto, but because we were
closer, they decided to land here."=20
More than an hour later, passengers were unloaded into the airport and
most emergency vehicles left the scene.=20
Estimates of the number of passengers ranged from 139 to 239.=20
It was not clear last night what the problem was with the airbus, said
London International Airport president Steve Baker, but airport
employees were contacting technicians for Iberia International
Airlines.=20
"We are talking with the technical people in Madrid and Miami," said
Baker, adding the cause of the smoke was unknown.=20
Passengers appeared mostly in good spirits as they waited to hear
their fate for their night.=20
Airport officials provided most of them with refreshments and some
spoke into cellphones.=20
Wolf was playing cards with his father, while his brother, sister and
mother lounged on nearby airport benches.=20
The South Carolina family was travelling to Spain and then Italy for a
family vacation.=20
"There was a bad smell, like burning wire," he said through the glass.=20=
"Then someone came on the intercom and said 'we have to make an
emergency landing.'=20
"It was really freaky."=20
Wolf said the plane began to descend immediately, dropping quickly
until it made an abrupt stop on the runway in London.=20
He couldn't recall what people were saying or doing around him, as he
was so "freaked out," himself.=20
"I was so scared," he said. "Really I was."=20
</bigger></fontfamily><fontfamily><param>Arial</param>
</fontfamily><fontfamily><param>Geneva</param>Copyright =A9 The London
Free Press 2001,2002,2003</fontfamily><fontfamily><param>Arial</param>
</fontfamily>=
--Boundary_(ID_9yUCmnoS/HBWXRYtwmhdPg)--