Emergency at PBI

[MarkLawrence]

AA1738 from SJU to PHL diverted on an emergency to PBI with smoke in the cockpit - also reports that there may be windshield damage, although that doesn't appear in the story below.

http://www.wptv.com/news/local/story.as ... 9b43a2cd30 (http://www.wptv.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=69e35c0c-2906-46f0-af4e-8a9b43a2cd30)

[Matt Molnar]

Sounds scary, a passenger interviewed on 1010 WINS this morning said they turned out the cabin lights to search for fire.

[MarkLawrence]

A report on the radio here this morning said that the right hand cockpit window was broken - they didn't say when it got broken, but that the co-pilot had "injuries consistent with broken glass" in his face....sounds like it was really a scary ride - when I left this morning - the a/c was on the hard stand.

[Ari707]

why do you think he went to PBI rather then Miami, they arent that far apart flying and MIA is an AA hub?

[Matt Molnar]

Ehh, when you think the plane might be on fire I think you're probably not worried about getting to a company hub as much as just landing ASAP.

[MarkLawrence]

WEST PALM BEACH — A windshield heater problem so serious federal officials called on airlines in September to fix it - but which remains unresolved - is the most likely cause of the emergency that forced an American Airlines flight to divert to Palm Beach International Airport Wednesday night.

More: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/ ... PLANE.html (http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2008/01/31/0131PLANE.html)