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For all those who said they would rather fly Emirates then Qantas
Airbus returns to Perth airport with burning smell
Nicole Cox and Nick Taylor, police reporters
October 16, 2008 11:35am
PERTH Airport was on high alert this morning when an Emirates plane made an emergency landing with reports of smoke or a burning smell in the cabin.
The flight, EK425, left Perth International Airport bound for Dubai at 6.01am but turned back after 90 minutes with the pilot apparently reporting smoke in the plane.
The pilot told air traffic control at 7.50am that there was a technical issue with the Airbus A340.
The plane was met by emergency personnel after it made a textbook emergency landing about 8.45am. It was parked away from the terminal, which is standard procedure.
All 121 on board were disembarked.
Australian Transport Safety Bureau spokesman David Hope confirmed the authority had been notified of the incident.
``We have been informed that there were 121 people on board and they experienced smoke in the cockpit about 200 nautical miles from Perth,'' he said.
``The crew carried out an appropriate checklist and the flight returned to Perth.''
However Emirates said this morning there was no smoke in the cabin or cockpit of the plane.
A spokesperson said the plane had returned after a burning smell was detected.
Engineers were investigating the cause of the smell.
Passengers would be carried on another Emirates flight today.
The spokesperson said the decision to return was a precautionary measure.
Passengers and crew were held in the international terminal lounge area this morning before being processed by Customs, Immigration or Quarantine officers.
A passenger told ABC radio this morning that she did not notice smoke in the cabin.
Airport corporate affairs manager Malcolm Bradshaw said it was not unusual for planes to return to Perth in such circumstances.
Airbus returns to Perth airport with burning smell | PerthNow