Mar 29, 2000 - 07:13 PM

Smoky Odor Diverts Plane to Richmond; Jet Hits Birds in Dulles Takeoff

The Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A Delta Express flight from Florida to New Jersey was diverted to Richmond on Wednesday after a passenger smelled smoke in the cabin, an airline spokesman said.

The Boeing 737 was en route from Orlando, Fla., to Newark, N.J., when the smoke was sensed. Andy McDill, a Delta spokesman, said the flight landed at Richmond International Airport without incident. Other transportation was arranged for the passengers while the diverted plane was examined by mechanics.

In a separate incident Wednesday, an American Airlines Boeing 767 that struck some birds while taking off at Dulles International Airport outside Washington made a quick return to the northern Virginia airport, an airline spokesman said.

The flight bound for Los Angeles landed back at Dulles about 8 a.m. None of the 65 passenger or 11 crew members were hurt, and the passengers were put on later flights, said American Airlines spokesman Dale Morris.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/florida/MGIS4FDMF6C.html

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), March 30, 2000