Nose cone blamed for jet's landing in Norman Wells

[Henry Tenby]

An engine nose cone that fell off is what forced a Canadian North flight bound for Inuvik, N.W.T., to make an unscheduled landing in Norman Wells in December, the Transportation Safety Board says.

Passengers aboard the Dec. 30 flight heard several loud bangs shortly after taking off from Norman Wells to Inuvik, about 450 kilometres to the north.

Some passengers told CBC News that the bangs sounded like engines backfiring on the Boeing 737 aircraft.

A report from the federal board, released Wednesday, found that a metal nose cone on one of the jet's engines had fallen off.

The cone was then sucked through the engine, senior investigator Wray Tsuji told CBC News on Wednesday.

Tsuji said the Canadian North crew reduced power on the aircraft, turned around and returned to Norman Wells.

Officials with Canadian North said its pilots followed standard procedures and were able to land the airplane safely.

The safety board's report found the plane had just completed major maintenance.

The board would not say whether the cone had been fastened improperly to the aircraft.