TRAVEL NEWS
American Airlines jet evacuated after emergency landing at LAX
Honolulu-bound Flight 31 was turned back and evacuated after smoke was detected in the cockpit.
August 5, 2008 10:55 AM PDT -- Passengers were evacuated this morning from an American Airlines jet that made an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport when smoke was detected in the cockpit.
FOR THE RECORD:
An earlier version of this article referred to American Flight 81, carrying 188 people aboard a Boeing 747. This version corrects or updates those numbers.
The Boeing 757 was bound for Honolulu but turned back for LAX after the pilot reported the smoke, said Paul Haney, deputy airport director. American Flight 31 landed safely about 9:30 a.m., said Ian Gregor, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman.
Passengers and crew exited the plane on emergency chutes. The crew in the cockpit donned oxygen masks when they saw the smoke, Haney said.
Firefighters were on the tarmac to assist with the exit.
Both south runways were closed during the evacuation and later one was reopened.
Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey told CNN that the pilot requested an emergency landing about an hour into the flight after crew members reported the smell of smoke in the cabin. He said firefighters were using thermal imaging equipment but had not detected a fire on the plane.
Two minor injuries have been reported among the seven crew members and 150 passengers onboard.
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