3/04/00

Plane engine bites dust, forces emergency stop at local airport

By CHARITA M. GOSHAY Repository staff writer

GREEN  A piece of a blown tire knocked out an AirTran engine Monday, and the pilot made an emergency landing at the Akron-Canton Regional Airport.

AirTran Flight 205 was taking off from Akron-Canton for Atlanta shortly before 12:30 p.m., when passengers said one of the planes tires had a blowout. A piece of the shredded tire was sucked into the left engine, which then stalled. The pilot turned the plane around and landed it safely. None of the 68 passengers on board was injured.

Richard McQueen, assistant director of aviation at the airport, said the plane landed at about 12:30 p.m. without incident.

It felt like a flat (tire) on a car, said passenger Debra Britt. It was jerking and shaking. You could smell burning rubber.

When we left the ground, it was obvious we had lost some power. It was too quiet, said Meredith Hale of Woodstock, Ga. Mrs. Hale, her husband, Kevin, and their infant daughter, Elizabeth, were returning home after visiting relatives in Mansfield.

They retracted the landing gear quickly, Hale added. It was very apparent we didnt have full engine power.

AirTran spokeswoman Sarah Duffin confirmed passengers accounts, adding that the blown tire also damaged a flap on the wing.

As passengers stood in line to board a 3 p.m. flight, airport firefighters in silver fire suits inspected the damaged DC-9 jet, accompanied by airport officials, ground crew members and Summit County sheriffs deputies.

Hale praised the pilot and the planes crew for keeping everyone calm.

Actually, this was the best landing Ive ever had in Akron, she said with a smile. The pilot did an excellent job.

Tony Molinaro, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said his agency would be handling the investigation. Molinaro added that to his knowledge, no similar accidents have occurred recently with other AirTran flights.

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-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), April 04, 2000