Hawaiian Airlines Smoke Scare Forces Emergency Landing

A Hawaiian Airlines flight returned to Seattle after smoke was reported in the cockpit. The Airbus A330, carrying 273 passengers, was headed to Honolulu. The aircraft landed safely, and the incident is under investigation by the FAA. No smoke or smells were found during follow-up inspections.

A Hawaiian Airlines flight headed for Honolulu was forced to make an emergency landing shortly after taking off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport due to reports of smoke in the cockpit, the Federal Aviation Administration stated.

The Airbus A330 departed early Monday afternoon, carrying 273 passengers and 10 crew members. It was en route to Honolulu when the crew reported fumes in the flight deck, according to Hawaiian Airlines spokesperson Marissa Villegas. The FAA is currently investigating the incident involving Flight 21.

"The captain declared an emergency, securing priority handling, which allowed the plane to land at SEA without further incident," Villegas confirmed. Upon landing, fire and medical teams were present as a precaution, all passengers deplaned safely. An investigation conducted at the gate found no signs of smoke or unusual odors, as reported by airport spokesperson Perry Cooper. Flight 21 resumed its journey on Tuesday morning with a new aircraft, and Villegas emphasized their commitment to safety while apologizing for the event.

(With inputs from agencies.)