ALB: ARFF Team Responds to American Eagle Flight with Smoke Reported in Cabin

Shortly after 9 a.m. Aug. 10, the crew of American Eagle flight 5446 notified the Albany air traffic control tower that it was experiencing smoke in the cabin of the aircraft while making its final approach to Albany International Airport.

The aircraft was carrying 35 passengers and four crew members and was on route to Albany from Washington, D.C.

The Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Department responded with a full complement of firefighting and rescue equipment.

The aircraft landed on Runway-1 approximately two minutes after the initial call to the tower.

The aircraft immediately stopped on a taxiway and passengers evacuated the aircraft.

Passengers were taken to the terminal by Airport buses.

The Airport was closed for 20-minutes until the aircraft could be removed from the taxiway.

A preliminary inspection of the aircraft by the Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting department found the source of the smoke to be a small light fixture in the rear of the passenger cabin.

No fire was detected.