Scandinavian Airlines Plane Crash-Lands in Copenhagen

COPENHAGEN, Denmark – A Scandinavian Airlines turboprop carrying 73 people crashed during an emergency landing, catching fire as it hurtled down a runway in a cloud of smoke and dust. Five people sustained minor injuries, authorities said.

The Q400 turboprop's right landing gear collapsed during touchdown Sunday at the Aalborg airport in western Denmark, SAS said.

The plane was still on the runway Monday, blocking traffic. SAS decided to drop all flights to Aalborg because the alternate runway wasn't big enough for its planes, spokesman Bertil Ternert said.

Fifteen European flights to and from Copenhagen were also canceled because of scheduling disruptions indirectly related to the accident, SAS said.

The pilot made the emergency landing after dumping fuel and informing the control tower about a problem with a landing gear.

Ternert said the landing gear problem was a first, both for the airline and the aircraft maker Bombardier.

TV footage from public broadcaster DR showed the right landing gear collapsing shortly after touchdown. The plane tilted to the right and the wing hit the ground, sending the aircraft spinning on the runway.

One propeller broke loose and sliced through the cabin, but did not hit any of the passengers, police said.

Firefighters quickly put out a fire in the right engine before the 69 passengers and four crew members were evacuated, SAS said. Five passengers received minor injuries while evacuating, the airline said.

Danish authorities were investigating the cause of the accident.

SAS has a fleet of 33 Q400 turboprops. Aside from the damaged aircraft, none was taken out of service because of the accident, SAS Denmark spokesman Mikkel Loendahl said.

The plane had taken off from Copenhagen's international airport for the short domestic flight to Aalborg in northern Jutland.

Scandinavian Airlines, or SAS, is the joint flag carrier of Sweden, Denmark and Norway.