Malfunction in Commuter Plane Forces Landing
An American Eagle commuter airplane made an emergency landing late Tuesday after reporting problems with the plane’s de-icing equipment.
None of the plane’s 16 passengers or three crew members was hurt.
The ATR-42, en route from Dayton, Ohio, was approaching O’Hare International Airport for landing when it reported the malfunction and declared an emergency, said Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Don Zochert. Rain and snow was falling over Chicago at the time.
“Whether (the de-icing equipment) malfunctioned or lights in the cockpit indicated there was a malfunction, we’ll find out when we and American Eagle check the aircraft tomorrow,” Zochert said.
The ATR-42 is a smaller version of the ATR-72. An American Eagle ATR-72 crashed in icy weather Oct. 31 near Roselawn, Ind., killing all 68 people aboard.
Since that crash, the National Transportation Safety Board has recommended ATRs not fly in known icing conditions.
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