An Air Canada Boeing 767-300, with 128 passengers on board, has made an emergency landing in Madrid, after part of the landing gear reportedly fell into an engine.
Spain’s Defence Ministry said that an F18 fighter jet was dispatched from a military airport near the Spanish capital, to evaluate the damage done to the landing gear of Toronto bound Flight AC837.
The plane returned to Madrid and made an emergency landing at about 07.15 local time.
Pictures posted on social media show flames coming from the left engine of the plane.
The Boeing 767-300 aircraft had departed from Madrid Barajas airport earlier in the day, it was scheduled to land in Toronto at 15.40 local time.
After the pilot requested an emergency landing half an hour into the flight, it spent several hours circling to the the south east of Madrid in an effort to burn fuel before landing.
A F18 fighter jet was flying parallel to the Air Canada Boeing 767, in order for pilots to undertake a visual inspection of the aircraft.
The same passenger also posted a video of the inside of the plane, as it made its landing at Adolfo Suarez-Barajas international airport.
Air Canada provided a statement regarding the incident, saying the plane “experienced an engine issue shortly after take-off” as well as a ruptured tyre.
It added that the aircraft “is designed to operate on one engine and our pilots are fully trained for this eventuality”.
“Nonetheless, an emergency was declared in order to obtain landing priority,” Air Canada said.
Air Canada flight AC837, Madrid to Toronto, experienced an engine issue shortly after take-off. A tire also reportedly ruptured on take-off, one of 10 on this model of aircraft. The aircraft opted to return to Madrid and is currently circling to use up fuel and lighten the aircraft for landing. The aircraft, a Boeing 767-300, is designed to operate on one engine and our pilots are fully trained for this eventuality. Nonetheless, an emergency was declared in order to obtain landing priority. There are 128 passengers on board. We have no further details on the cause at present.
Air Canada
A spokeswoman with Spain’s airport operator AENA said the airline had requested a slot for an emergency landing, some 30 minutes after take-off.
A spokesman for Enaire, Spain’s air navigation authority, said the plane’s landing gear did not fold up properly on take off and that a piece of it may have damaged part of one of the engines.
Emergency service vehicles including fire engines and ambulances have been deployed at the Spanish capital’s airport.
Here are pictures of the left engine after landing.