Alaska Airlines' Trying Spring Continues

It is hard being Alaska Airlines right now. Just last week the local carrier had to cancel numerous flights to comply with FAA inspections of MD-80 airplanes. And not one, but two airlines invaded their bread and butter routes by offering new amenity-filled flights between Seattle and California.

Alaska's struggles continued today, when a plane had to be evacuated due to smoke in the cockpit. This also resulted in the day's unintentionally funny headline (courtesy of the Seattle P-I): "Alaska Airlines 737 evacuated on landing." While "evacuated" wouldn't be the verb you'd usually use, getting off the plane after it lands is pretty much standard operating procedure.

Flight 529 from Los Angeles had reported a possible landing gear problem about twenty minutes from its landing at Sea-Tac. The plane had no difficulties landing. However, shortly after touch-down, a "light haze" of smoke appeared in the cockpit. The pilot ordered the crew to evacuate the flight's 103 passengers, deploying the emergency chutes on the tarmac. The flight's pilot was treated for minor smoke inhalation and two passengers complained of twisted ankles after the evacuation.

"Alaska Flyers" from our Seattlest Flickr Pool contributor hobbes8calvin