An overheated fan caused a transatlantic jet to divert to Shannon Airport yesterday (Tuesday) in what was the flight's second emergency landing in a matter of hours, writes Pat Flynn.
American Airlines flight AA-98 was en route from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Heathrow in London with 246 passengers and a crew of 14 on board.
Just a few hours into the flight, the crew was forced to divert Stephenville in Newfoundland, Canada after a passenger on board suffered a suspected heart attack.
After the passenger was removed to hospital and the aircraft was refuelled, the flight was was able to continue it's journey to London.
However, just a few hours later, when the Boeing 777 jet was about 300 kilometres south west of Shannon, the crew was forced to declare their second emergency in less than eight hours.
The captain contacted air traffic controllers at Shannon to report that a smell of smoke had been detected in the passenger cabin.
When cabin crew members were unable to locate the source of the odour, the pilot confirmed he was declaring an emergency and requested clearance to divert to Shannon.
Crash crews at Shannon were placed on standby while units of the fire brigade from Shannon and Ennis along with ambulances from both Ennis and Limerick were scrambled as part of the airport's emergency plan.
Aircraft emergency vehicles took up position at strategic locations along the airport's main runway and quickly pursued and surrounded the jet as soon as it landed at 1.07pm.
After touching down safely, the captain confirmed that the smoke had dissipated considerably and that he would be able to taxi directly to the terminal building.
As soon as the passengers had disembarked normally, a thorough inspection of the aircraft was undertaken.
The captain indicated an area of the jet which he requested fire crews to check as he suspected the smoke may have originated there. Maintenance crews joined fire personnel and searched the forward passenger cabin and soon located the problem.
It was later established the an overheated fan was the probable source of the odour.
No one on board was affected by the odour or required medical attention and so the paramedics were stood down.
An American Airlines spokesman confirmed: "The crew declared an emergency after a smell of smoke was detected in the cabin. No smoke was seen however. Emergency services were standing by and maintenance staff inspected the plane and isolated the problem."
It had been expected the flight would resume it's journey after the issue was resolved however by the time the aircraft was cleared to fly, the crew had run of out duty hours.
The flight remained grounded at Shannon overnight while the passengers were accommodated in local hotels.
The flight was expected to leave Shannon this morning (Wednesday) at 5.15am.
American Airlines flight AA-98 was en route from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Heathrow in London with 246 passengers and a crew of 14 on board.
Just a few hours into the flight, the crew was forced to divert Stephenville in Newfoundland, Canada after a passenger on board suffered a suspected heart attack.
After the passenger was removed to hospital and the aircraft was refuelled, the flight was was able to continue it's journey to London.
However, just a few hours later, when the Boeing 777 jet was about 300 kilometres south west of Shannon, the crew was forced to declare their second emergency in less than eight hours.
The captain contacted air traffic controllers at Shannon to report that a smell of smoke had been detected in the passenger cabin.
When cabin crew members were unable to locate the source of the odour, the pilot confirmed he was declaring an emergency and requested clearance to divert to Shannon.
Crash crews at Shannon were placed on standby while units of the fire brigade from Shannon and Ennis along with ambulances from both Ennis and Limerick were scrambled as part of the airport's emergency plan.
Aircraft emergency vehicles took up position at strategic locations along the airport's main runway and quickly pursued and surrounded the jet as soon as it landed at 1.07pm.
After touching down safely, the captain confirmed that the smoke had dissipated considerably and that he would be able to taxi directly to the terminal building.
As soon as the passengers had disembarked normally, a thorough inspection of the aircraft was undertaken.
The captain indicated an area of the jet which he requested fire crews to check as he suspected the smoke may have originated there. Maintenance crews joined fire personnel and searched the forward passenger cabin and soon located the problem.
It was later established the an overheated fan was the probable source of the odour.
No one on board was affected by the odour or required medical attention and so the paramedics were stood down.
An American Airlines spokesman confirmed: "The crew declared an emergency after a smell of smoke was detected in the cabin. No smoke was seen however. Emergency services were standing by and maintenance staff inspected the plane and isolated the problem."
It had been expected the flight would resume it's journey after the issue was resolved however by the time the aircraft was cleared to fly, the crew had run of out duty hours.
The flight remained grounded at Shannon overnight while the passengers were accommodated in local hotels.
The flight was expected to leave Shannon this morning (Wednesday) at 5.15am.
