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Fuel spill cancels Kugluktuk flight Plane turned around after leak detected in cargo bay
Miranda Scotland
Northern News Services
Published Monday, August 19, 2013
KUGLUKTUK/COPPERMINE
An aircraft travelling to Kugluktuk from Yellowknife was forced to turn back after a dangerous good being held in the cargo area began leaking fuel Aug. 11, said a spokesperson for Canadian North.
The Boeing 737 was transporting an aircraft start unit, which has a small combustion engine and an integral fuel tank that was holding Jet A-1 fuel.
The flight crew was alerted to the leak after the scent of fuel was detected in the cabin, said Lisa Hicks, marketing manager for Canadian North.
The plane was still in its initial climb at the time.
The crew notified the pilot, who then flew the plane back to the Yellowknife airport.
Emergency crews met the aircraft at the terminal, as is standard procedure.
Four flight crew and 32 passengers were on board the plane, which was set to arrive in Kugluktuk shortly after 11 a.m.
The Boeing 737 was inspected and subsequently decontaminated. Passengers were moved to a flight that was departing on Aug. 12.
Hicks said the company is legally allowed to move dangerous goods using carrier planes providing Transportation of Dangerous Goods regulations are followed.
Nonetheless, Canadian North is conducting an internal investigation into this matter, she added.
According to the Transport Canada site, items defined as dangerous goods are transported within the country every day.
The regulations detail how dangerous goods should be marked and the need for an emergency response assistance plan.
It also stipulates that a person must be properly trained before handling dangerous goods or be supervised by someone who has been trained.
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