Jetliner Lands on One Engine

PALM SPRINGS — An America West Airlines jetliner carrying 114 people sucked tumbleweeds into an engine on takeoff today and made a safe, emergency landing on one engine at Municipal Airport here, officials said.

The twin-engine Boeing 737 had just taken off from Ontario International Airport in San Bernardino County on a 60-minute flight to Phoenix when the pilot reported that the left engine was overheating. America West spokeswoman Daphne Dicino said the pilot shut down the engine after a warning light came on in the cabin and headed for Palm Springs Municipal Airport, where the jet made a safe landing about 8:30 a.m. Fire officials said the trouble on Flight 323 apparently was caused by tumbleweeds sucked into the engine on takeoff.