Singapore Airliner Lands Safely After False Fire Alarm

The alarm may have been tripped by an airflow disturbance that affected heat insulation on the plane's right engine.
Jan. 24, 2007

A Singapore Airlines passenger jet carrying more than 240 people landed safely at Beijing's airport after an engine fire alarm went off Wednesday, the airline said.

Although there was no fire, the airline said the pilot acted correctly in returning the plane to the airport.

"There is no evidence present of fire, damage or elevated temperatures," the airline said in a statement, adding that the alarm may have been tripped by an airflow disturbance that affected heat insulation on the plane's right engine.

There were no injuries in the incident.

The airline said flight SQ811 was an hour and 40 minutes into a trip from the Chinese capital to Singapore when the pilot decided to return to Beijing due to the alarm.

It said the Boeing 777-200 plane was carrying 227 passengers and 16 crew.

Earlier, a Beijing airport official said the plane was forced to return because there had been a fire in the engine.

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