Plane Makes Emergency Evacuation On The Runway At Philadelphia International Airport
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Dozens of passengers were forced to evacuate a plane at Philadelphia International Airport, after an emergency landing.
It wasn't the arrival to Philadelphia any of them were expecting.
Chelsea Deluvac is almost home and she's never been more relieved.
"It feels awesome," Deluvac said.
Deluvac was one of 52 passengers on US Airways Express Flight 2588 forced to evacuate the plane at Philadelphia International.
"At first, I just started smelling something really weird. It kind of smelled like somebody lit a match or something," Deluvac explained.
Joe Simmons added, "The stewardess came on and made an announcement that there was smoke in the plane that the pilot was investigating."
The next thing they hear: "Fasten your seatbelts. The plane is making an emergency landing."
Susan Lawley said, "My heart was trembling but only because we didn't know what was going on."
"All they told us was an emergency evacuation and I looked outside and all I saw was water all around us. So yea it was pretty scary," Deluvac added.
Fortunately, the plane landed safely at the airport. It was headed to Philadelphia from Knoxville, Tennessee when it landed just after 5 p.m. Friday.
Authorities say crew members made the decision after they smelled smoke in the cockpit. But passengers say they smelled it in the back of the plane as well.
Lawley said, "Smelled like actually a book of matches just lit up."
Simmons added, "They said it was first maybe because the heater was turned on but I don't think it was that. The smoke dissipated but the pilot still hurried to Philadelphia."
There were no reports of any injuries. As of late Friday, authorities say the cause of the smoke remained under investigation.
Reported by Elizabeth Hur, CBS 3
