Flaming Jet Engine Forces Emergency PDX Landing Delta Pilot Reports Failure David Krough, Staff Writer June 16, 2000, 8:23 p.m. PDT

PORTLAND -- A commercial passenger jet made an emergency landing at the Portland International Airport Friday afternoon after a reported engine failure.

KOIN 6 News reports that the pilot aboard a Delta MD-11 reported an engine failure shortly after takeoff around 1:42 p.m.

According to the airline, 264 passengers and 14 crew members were aboard.

Witnesses in Vancouver, Wash., say that they saw fire coming out of the engine, according to the news station.

Flight 51 originated in Atlanta and took off from Portland bound for Tokyo. A witness tells KOIN that the plane began dumping fuel as it circled the airport in an attempt to land.

Emergency fire and rescue crews stood by on the runway as the plane made a safe landing nearly an hour after takeoff.

Passengers tell the news station that they heard a "bang" and were told that they would be turning around to land. Most on board the aircraft were relieved, but say the delay was worse than the emergency.

The passengers were put up in Portland hotels for the night and will be reassigned to a new Delta flight.

http://www.koin.com/news/stories/news-20000616-211249.html

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), June 17, 2000