(Iqaluit) A plane traveling from Paris to Seattle made an emergency landing in Iqaluit due to a hot smell that spread through the cabin.
Air France said in a statement that a Boeing 787 was forced off course to land in the Nunavut capital shortly before noon Tuesday. Some 260 passengers were on board the plane, in addition to three pilots and nine crew members.
The airline said technical checks were being carried out on the plane. No information as to the origin of the odor was given.
Another Air France plane was scheduled to fly to Iqaluit from Montreal to pick up the passengers and take them to New York, where they can take another flight to Seattle.
“Air France regrets the inconvenience caused by this situation and reiterates that the safety of its customers and crews is its absolute priority,” the French company said.
A spokesperson for the Government of Nunavut said no damage or injuries had been reported. Weichien Chan said in an email that the organization governing the airport was working with Air France to provide assistance.
Iqaluit Airport is located near the city and has only one paved runway.
It is included in flight plans as a diversion airport for many airlines and private operators that travel on polar routes between North America, Asia and Europe, Weichien Chan said.
Diversions for technical or medical reasons occur there approximately once every two or three months, according to the government.