American Eagle SkyWest Aircraft Fire in Cargo Hold; Jet Diverted To Dupage Airport After Takeoff from O’Hare

West Chicago police and firefighter/paramedics responded about 9:10 AM Monday to a report of smoke in the cockpit of a passenger jet making an emergency landing at DuPage Airport, 2700 International Drive West Chicago, Il. Police and firefighter/paramedics received a report smoke in the cockpit in a American Eagle SkyWest passenger aircraft that took off from O’Hare International Airport. The aircraft was about 6 miles out when firefighters received the assignment to standby at the airport. American Eagle SkyWest 2936 with a destination of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was diverted to DuPage Airport.

The American Eagle aircraft landed at DuPage Airport on Runway 2L. The Canadian Regional Jet CRJ-200 twinjet flew a distance of 37 miles from O’Hare to DuPage, ascending to a top altitude of about 6,000 feet, according to Flightaware.com. At top altitude, the westbound passenger jet reached a top speed of about 275 mph over Roselle near Central Avenue and Roselle Road, just east of Schaumburg Airport.

The aircraft’s scheduled departure was 8:30 a.m. The aircraft took off at O’Hare from either Runway 28C or 28R at 9:04 a.m. and flew westbound over Irving Park Road. The aircraft turned left and headed south, just east of Route 59, crossed I-88, immediately headed northwest, and eventually approached DuPage Airport from the south-southwest.

Rescue 9 reported the aircraft had landed by 9:16 a.m. with a report of light smoke in the passenger compartment with 54 souls on board. Flightaware.com reported the aircraft had landed at 9:15 a.m.

Rescuers were completing evacuation of people from the aircraft by 9:31 a.m. and the plane was also completely evacuated by about 9:32 a.m.

Fire command reported that companies were working on a fire in the cargo hold. The fire was reported out by 9:41 a.m.

There were no reported injuries, and there were no transports to a hospital.

There was a prolonged response for West Chicago Engine 7 and some other fire companies because of a freight train in the area. Several units were on the scene when the aircraft landed.

FIRE/MEDIC UNITS ASSIGNED …

ENGINE(S): E5 E7

TRUCK(S): T ?? T ?? TL6

SQUAD(S): SQD?? Rescue 9

TENDER(S): TENDER 21 Tender 2 Tender 31

RIT: BC ?? T ??

CHIEF(S): BC6 Geneva BC1 Chief 28 Chief 31 Assistant 6

EMS: M5 M7 St Charles Ambulance

LIVE TRAFFIC MAP of neighborhood to a report of smoke in the cockpit of a passenger jet making an emergency landing at DuPage Airport, 2700 International Drive West Chicago, Il …

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A passenger, Nick Ludwig, reported that shortly after takeoff, passengers immediately started to notice some smoke. A flight attendant, who was on her first solo flight announced “there was mist.” But everyone (with some panic) agreed it wasn’t mist. The passenger said the emergency landing occurred within minutes.