Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 01/01) - A Boeing 737 touched down safely at the airport after one of its engines failed en route from Edmonton to Yellowknife Sunday morning.

NNSL file photo

The Canadian North flight was already delayed two hours due to bad weather before attempting its regular scheduled flight to Yellowknife, Norman Wells and Inuvik at 11:30 a.m.

According to director of commercial services for the airline, Gary Reid, while in flight, an indicator light came on in the cockpit, signalling a power failure in one of its two engines.

After the pilot shut the engine down, he informed passengers of the problem and continued on to Yellowknife with the one working engine.

"The standard operation is to turn off the engine when the light comes on," said Reid. "It's all part of the whole aviation safety procedure."

After landing in Yellowknife, it was determined that the problem was with the engine's starter. It was replaced, and the plane was flown back to Edmonton for further inspection.

Another plane was brought in to fly passengers continuing on to Norman Wells and Inuvik.

Reid said the engine trouble was an isolated incident and that there had been no previous problems involving the plane.