Delta Air Lines Aborted Takeoff

I M P E R I A L, Pa, Aug. 30 -- A Delta Air Lines captain departingPittsburgh International Airport called off the flight when hesmelled smoke, prompting the evacuation of the jet Wednesdaymorning, a Delta spokeswoman said.

Delta Flight 2200 from Pittsburgh to Atlanta was prepared fortakeoff at about 10 a.m. when the incident occurred, said CindyKurczewski, an airline spokeswoman in Atlanta.

The 52 passengers left the McDonnell Douglas MD-88 jet on anemergency slide, and three had minor injuries from the evacuationbut refused treatment, Kurczewski said. Five crew were alsoevacuated.

Kurczewski said the “haze” the pilot and customers saw wascaused by fluid that leaked from one of three redundant hydraulicsystems used to control wing flaps and rudders. The fluid smokeswhen it becomes hot, she said.

Kurczewski said the plane would have been able to fly safelydespite the leak because the redundant systems are designed to backup one another.

She did not know how long it would take to fix the problem andreturn this particular jet to service.

The passengers were put on another Delta flight.

“It’s scary, to be sure. Thank God we were still on theground,” said passenger Phyllis Bower of Allentown.

“We were backing out, and everything looked good. We were aboutthird in line for takeoff,” said Brick Woods of Miami. “And thenthe cabin started filling up with smoke. It was a light smoke, butit was acrid and it burned our noses and burned our eyes.”