Make wishtv.com your home page

Cargo plane makes emergency landing in Fort Wayne

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – A Boeing 727-200 cargo plane made an emergency landing at Fort Wayne International Airport Sunday night after the crew reported smoke in the cockpit.

Online flight records indicated the plane departed Oakland County International Airport at 10:10 p.m. and was scheduled to land sometime Monday at Laredo International Airport in Texas.

The plane diverted course at 10:36 p.m. and landed at FWA at 10:55 p.m. Flight records indicate the plane was flying at approximately 36,000 feet when it diverted course and immediately began a descent into FWA.

FWA Public Safety said airport crews called the Fort Wayne Fire Department due to the amount of fuel on board the aircraft. Officials did not know how much fuel the aircraft was carrying, but thought it was fairly full since it recently departed.

The aircraft landed safely and three crew members were able to exit without incident. Fire officials found no flames on the aircraft. It’s unclear what cargo the aircraft was carrying.

The plane was labeled “IFL Group” with a tail number of N215WE. IFL Group is a company that handles air cargo transportation for a variety of industries to several national and international destinations, according to the company’s website.

IFL Group is based in Waterford, Michigan and handles some contract charters for General Motors and Ford. IFL Group operates approximately 28 planes, including three 727-200s.

Airport officials said ground operations at FWA were not interrupted. It’s unclear when the plane will be cleared to fly again.