A frightening situation involving the Dallas Stars‘ team plane was quickly averted, thanks to quick action from the pilots.
Dallas Stars plane forced to make emergency landing because of smoke in cockpit https://t.co/P5mM6mp5zF
— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) January 8, 2017
The Stars 737 airplane took off at 11:52 a.m. from the St. Louis Downtown Airport in Cahokia, Illinois headed to Los Angeles, but less than five minutes into the flight had to turn around because of smoke in the cockpit. The plane was carrying 50 passengers and team staff.
Airport fire chief Mike Mavrogeorge said that the problem likely stemmed from an electrical malfunction, and that there was no fire on the plane.
After an emergency landing after takeoff due to an electrical issue, the team has boarded a new plane and is currently traveling to LA.
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) January 8, 2017
Stars spokesman Ben Fromstein said the team didn’t notice any smoke in the cabin. “Everybody is safe and that’s all that matters,” he said.
