Plane carrying Carolina Hurricanes makes emergency landing

TULSA, Okla. – A passenger says a Swift Air charter plane carrying the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes made an emergency landing in Oklahoma over the weekend after a noxious smell filled the cabin.

The Boeing 737 landed at Tulsa International Airport about 4 a.m. Saturday while travelling from Long Beach, California, to Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. The aircraft was returning the hockey team to North Carolina after a game.

The team’s vice-president of communications, Mike Sundheim, was on the flight. Sundheim said Monday that passengers could smell something similar to burning plastic.

Once on the ground, Sundheim says technicians replaced a malfunctioning air data computer and took off again after a delay of about two hours.

No injuries were reported.

Phoenix-based Swift Air hasn’t responded to telephone and email requests for comment.