Cranbrook, BC (November 13, 2014) – The smell of smoke caused a Pacific Coastal flight to return to the Canadian Rockies International Airport Thursday morning.
Around 8:10am Pacific Coastal flight 630 left the Canadian Rockies International Airport bound for Vancouver. Once airborne there was a noticeable smell of smoke. At 8:13am the pilots declared an emergency and immediately turned the aircraft around and returned to the Airport. Once the aircraft was shut down the smoke dissipated. All passengers and crew deplaned safely by 8:17am.
No injuries were reported and no one was taken to hospital.
The airport’s Emergency Plan was activated and both the BC Ambulance Service and Cranbrook Fire and Emergency Services responded. Fire crews inspected the entire aircraft for any potential hotspots but none were located.
The aircraft has been removed from service pending an investigation by Pacific Coastal Airlines maintenance personnel.
All passengers affected by today’s event were rebooked on different aircraft and departed safely this morning.