Only Pilot And Copilot Aboard, Both Unhurt

FedEx Flight 2327 enroute from Billings, MT to Springfield, MO diverted to Denver International Airport Friday night, after the crew reported smoke in the cockpit.

Online flight tracking reveals the Boeing 727-200 was cruising at 37,000 feet until almost 8 pm, when it began a quick decent to an emergency landing at Denver. The pilot and copilot, the plane's only occupants, landed the plane safely and exited the plane via its emergency chutes.

The Denver Fire Department, called to the scene on a red alert for heightened response, was unable to find any sign of smoke or fire in the airplane. Wanting to search cargo containers, the DFD requested that the plane be unloaded by FedEx personnel to facilitate investigation.

Initial reports indicated the cause of the smoke was unknown as firefighters found no sign of smoke or fire, "but I'm still waiting to be sure," airport spokesman Chuck Cannon told KMGH-7.

About the same time, investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board arrived, allowing nothing to be moved before they could formally begin their own investigation. An NTSB spokesperson said officials planned to work through the night.

Denver's 9News reports the plane was towed clear of the runway and to a FedEx cargo area. Runway 35L, temporarily closed by the incident, was then reopened.

FMI: www.flydenver.com, www.ntsb.gov