The pilot was overheard saying his eyes were burning
Posted: 07/13/2004 10:46 pm Last Updated: 07/13/2004 10:47 pm Story filed by NewsCenter16 Reporter Judi Lykowski A Southwest Airlines flight on its way to Chicago was forced to make an emergency landing at South Bend Regional airport Tuesday evening.
Southwest flight 933 was on its way from Raleigh, North Carolina to Midway Airport in Chicago when the pilot called for the emergency landing.
The pilot was overheard saying his eyes were burning and several members of his flight crew had similar discomfort.
Emergency crews scrambled into place When the flight made its approach emergency crews scrambled into place and set up on the runway. The emergency crews even backed away from the plane as it taxied into place.
"They had a report of smoke in the cabin and some passengers were having symptoms of discomfort so they landed here and they have mechanics that are going to look at the plane," said Airport Director of Operations Marci Greenberger, shortly after the plane landed.
Fortunately the crews weren’t needed and everyone on the plane was safe. Airport security checked out the aircraft and another Southwest plane out of Midway was called in to pick up the passengers.
"Department of Public Safety inspected the plane from the outside and it looked from the outside to not be a problem," stated Greenberger.
Passengers waited in plane for over four hours However it wasn’t an easy night for those on board the flight. The 110 passengers sat on the runway for over four hours. The torrential rains that pummeled Michiana made their situation even worse. Strong winds, rain and lightening delayed the passengers change to another plane, keeping them on the runway longer then expected.
The passengers were being prepared to fly out of South Bend and land in midway late Tuesday night. There is still no word on where the smoke in the cabin was coming from.
The pilot told NewsCenter 16 that one of the passengers on board was going to make a transfer to his final destination in South Bend, so Southwest allowed that gentleman to get off of the plane.
There is something on the plane that is causing people's eyes to burn.
They don't know if it is a smoldering fire, a toxic cargo leak, someones mace/pepper spray, or a deliberate attack.
So they KEEP THE PEOPLE ON THE PLANE FOR FOUR FREEKING HOURS!?!?!
Did I get that right???
Thank you all4one