Howard plane develops snag
Monday, March 19, 2007
A PLANE carrying Australian Prime Minister John Howard was forced to make an emergency landing in Iraq after the cabin began to fill with smoke and fumes shortly after take-off, defence officials said yesterday.
Howard was on a secret visit to southern Iraq when the Royal Australian Air Force (Raaf) C-130 Hercules was forced back to Tallil airbase last Saturday, the Raaf said.
The plane, which was carrying 30 people including the head of the Australian defence force Air Marshal Angus Houston, was on its way to Baghdad when the cabin filled with smoke and fumes soon after taking off from Tallil.
The pilot turned the plane around as it reached an altitude of about 1,500m, forcing passengers to wear oxygen masks as the plane dropped into a rapid descent.
Smoke was billowing from the C-130 when it touched down at Tallil some 300km south of Baghdad and troops rushed to evacuate the prime minister, reports said.
Journalists travelling with the prime minister said Howard appeared relaxed after the incident.
"I'm fine. I was in very good hands. You can't get any better than the Raaf," Howard said.
"It was a really good performance, and I want to thank everyone."
Houston, who was seated in the cockpit with Howard during the 14-minute ordeal, said the emergency was deemed a PAN — possible assistance necessary — just below a mayday call.
"It was a precautionary landing. A PAN was declared and the pilot requested an immediate landing," he said.
"It was the sensible thing to do in the circumstances. I can't fault their actions. The evacuation was done very, very quickly and efficiently."
The cause of the emergency landing would be investigated, he added.
Howard, who last week visited Australian troops in Afghanistan, boarded a second aircraft 20 minutes after the incident and continued his trip to Baghdad.
After meeting with officials at the Australian embassy, Howard was briefed by the US commander in Iraq General David Petraeus and intelligence officials. He also met Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, agreeing that Australia would maintain its troop commitment in Iraq until "terrorists are defeated". "There has been some progress but we still wish the Australians to remain until we have completely defeated the terrorists," al-Maliki told a news conference after the meeting.AFP
Howard was on a secret visit to southern Iraq when the Royal Australian Air Force (Raaf) C-130 Hercules was forced back to Tallil airbase last Saturday, the Raaf said.
The plane, which was carrying 30 people including the head of the Australian defence force Air Marshal Angus Houston, was on its way to Baghdad when the cabin filled with smoke and fumes soon after taking off from Tallil.
The pilot turned the plane around as it reached an altitude of about 1,500m, forcing passengers to wear oxygen masks as the plane dropped into a rapid descent.
Smoke was billowing from the C-130 when it touched down at Tallil some 300km south of Baghdad and troops rushed to evacuate the prime minister, reports said.
Journalists travelling with the prime minister said Howard appeared relaxed after the incident.
"I'm fine. I was in very good hands. You can't get any better than the Raaf," Howard said.
"It was a really good performance, and I want to thank everyone."
Houston, who was seated in the cockpit with Howard during the 14-minute ordeal, said the emergency was deemed a PAN — possible assistance necessary — just below a mayday call.
"It was a precautionary landing. A PAN was declared and the pilot requested an immediate landing," he said.
"It was the sensible thing to do in the circumstances. I can't fault their actions. The evacuation was done very, very quickly and efficiently."
The cause of the emergency landing would be investigated, he added.
Howard, who last week visited Australian troops in Afghanistan, boarded a second aircraft 20 minutes after the incident and continued his trip to Baghdad.
After meeting with officials at the Australian embassy, Howard was briefed by the US commander in Iraq General David Petraeus and intelligence officials. He also met Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, agreeing that Australia would maintain its troop commitment in Iraq until "terrorists are defeated". "There has been some progress but we still wish the Australians to remain until we have completely defeated the terrorists," al-Maliki told a news conference after the meeting.AFP
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