SEATAC – Alaska Airlines and the FAA are investigating why smoke appeared in the cockpit and cabin of one of the airline’s older 737s after it landed Thursday morning at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

The plane, carrying 103 passengers and a crew of five, was evacuated using its emergency slides on a taxiway.

The first officer was treated for possible smoke inhalation but was later said to be OK, and two passengers reported minor injuries, according to the airline.

Investigators do not know if the smoke was caused by a problem with the nose gear, which delayed the landing while the pilots were troubleshooting and made an airport fly-by.

Flight 529 from Los Angeles was about five to 10 minutes from landing at the Seattle airport when the cockpit instruments indicated a possible problem with the nose gear, said Paul McElroy, an airline spokesman.

The pilots decided to make a low-level pass over the runway so air traffic controllers in the tower could make sure the landing gear was down, McElroy said. The plane then circled back around and made a normal landing. But while it was taxing to the gate, a hazy smoke appeared in the cockpit and the cabin, and the captain ordered evacuation chutes deployed.

The plane landed at 9:20 a.m. It was supposed to land at 9:03 a.m.

McElroy said the first officer later received “precautionary medical attention” for possible smoke inhalation. He did not require hospitalization. And two passengers reported “minor” injuries during the evacuation and asked for medical treatment, McElroy said.

The 10-year-old plane is one of Alaska Airlines’ older “classic” 737s that are gradually being replaced with newer models. The average age of Alaska’s fleet of 40 737-400s is 12 years and six months. Earlier this year, the airline inspected all its 737-400s for possible wing-flap problems after several emergency landings.

Older 737s have been getting a lot of attention in recent weeks after the FAA fined Southwest Airlines a record amount for failing to make timely inspections.

SOURCE:

• Seattle P-I