Philadelphia

Smoke in Cockpit Forces Plane to Make Emergency Landing at Philadelphia International Airport

"the cabin filled with smoke, oxygen masks deployed and we were instructed on the emergency landing procedure," a passenger said

Two separate planes made emergency landings — one with smoke filling the plane — at Philadelphia International Airport on Friday morning, forcing a brief ground stop as crews worked to clear the scene.

Piedmont Air Flight 4801 — operating for American Eagle — made an emergency landing at PHL around 8:18 a.m., the Federal Aviation Administration told NBC News.

The Embraer ERJ-145 had taken off from Richmond, Virginia, with 50 passengers and four crew and landed at the airport after smoke turned up in the cockpit, according to the FAA. [[377565561, C]]

"Passengers were not given many details on what happened, but the cabin filled with smoke, oxygen masks deployed and we were instructed on the emergency landing procedure," said passenger Damon Dossett. "After an abrupt landing, we climbed out off the wings and were greeted by firefighters and emergency personnel." [[377568241, C]]

One passenger required evaluation by medical personnel at the airport but was released at the airport, said American Airlines spokeswoman Victoria Lupica.

Philadelphia was the plane’s final destination and America said it would re-accommodate all passengers and crew on other connecting flights if needed.

The Philadelphia Fire Department told NBC10 that the situation was under control.

There was also a second, unrelated emergency landing at the airport Friday morning. A Republic Airlines jetliner from Toronto, Canada that had reported steering problems, said the FAA. In that incident, Airport spokeswoman Mary Flannery said the pilot was able to resolve the problem and the landing did not require any emergency activity.

The 76 passengers from the Republic Flight — operated as American Eagle Flight 4518 — got off the plane normally after the flight, which was scheduled to land in Philly, taxied to the terminal.

Just after 9 a.m., the FAA and the airport said that one runway had reopened but warned passengers to expect residual delays. [[377568581, C]]

Flights were delayed by more than an hour through the morning.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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