Airliner Makes Emergency Landing At GSP

An inflight fire broke out in the cargo compartment of a Delta Air Lines 767-300 Wednesday afternoon, burning a passenger and forcing an emergency landing at Greenville-Spartanburg Airport (GSP) just before 1700 local time.

Flight 1819 departed Raleigh-Durham, NC just before 1600 EDT, enroute to Atlanta. The airliner (file photo of type, above) with 200 passengers onboard had just passed Greenville when the fire apparently broke out.

GSP spokeswoman Rosylin Weston told WYFF-4 in Greenville the flight crew reported smelling smoke in the cockpit. Airport manager Larry Holcombe said one passenger was treated for burns from the fire; no other injuries were reported.

Little is known about the nature of the fire, though Delta spokesman Brian Kruz said a preliminary investigation by inspectors points to a malfunction in the airliner's cabin air system.

Several passengers told authorities they heard a possible explosion onboard, and felt heat coming from the floor of the cabin. The flames had reportedly been extinguished by the time the aircraft landed.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.delta.com