An Air Canada Rouge flight had to make an emergency landing in Des Moines, Iowa, after pilots detected smoke in the cockpit. The incident occurred during a flight from Las Vegas to Toronto. Thankfully, no injuries were reported among the 176 passengers on board.
The flight, an Airbus A321, was diverted “out of an abundance of caution,” according to reports. The aircraft, which originally departed from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, was en route to Toronto Pearson International Airport. The Airbus was cruising at an altitude of 35,000 feet when the decision to redirect was made.
Flightradar24 data indicated that the A321 began descending as it approached Des Moines, veering off course to make an unscheduled landing. Passengers safely disembarked at Des Moines International Airport.
According to a statement from Air Canada quoted by CBC News, “The A321 aircraft landed normally and as per standard procedure, was immediately evaluated after landing by airport response teams, and then cleared to taxi to the gate.”
The flight, coded AC1702, typically operates daily between Las Vegas and Toronto, taking approximately four hours. Air Canada was reportedly arranging for another aircraft to transport the passengers to Toronto.
The Airbus A321 involved in the incident is registered as C-FJQL and has been in service since May 2016. It is leased by AviLease and is part of Air Canada Rouge’s all-Airbus fleet. The fleet primarily handles domestic and short-haul international flights.
In response to the landing, firefighters employed an infrared camera to identify the smoke’s source, but the origin remains unclear. Modern aircraft, including the Airbus A350, feature advanced fire suppression systems and composite materials that offer improved fire resistance compared to older models. This technology aims to prevent incidents such as cargo hold fires, which have been the cause of past accidents.
Air Canada Rouge, a subsidiary of Air Canada, continues to operate under strict protocols concerning smoke detection, ensuring passenger safety remains paramount.
