A Hawaiian Airlines flight en route to Honolulu was forced to return to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport shortly after takeoff on Monday due to reports of fumes in the cockpit, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The flight, Hawaiian Airlines Flight 21, an Airbus A330 carrying 273 passengers and 10 crew members, departed Seattle around 1 p.m. for Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. Shortly after departure, the crew reported the presence of fumes on the flight deck, prompting the captain to declare an emergency to ensure priority landing.
The aircraft landed safely at Sea-Tac without incident, and passengers were met by fire and medical personnel as a precaution, Hawaiian Airlines spokesperson Marissa Villegas said in an email.
“Safety is our priority, and we sincerely apologize for this event,” Villegas stated. She added that everyone onboard was able to deplane safely.
After the plane was cleared, the Port of Seattle Fire Department conducted an investigation but found no smoke or odors inside the aircraft, according to airport spokesperson Perry Cooper.
To accommodate passengers, Hawaiian Airlines deployed a new aircraft, and Flight 21 departed Seattle on Tuesday morning.
The FAA is currently investigating the incident.
(Source: Associated Press)