United Flt 497 New Orleans to San Francisco Emergency divert back to Louis Armstrong International Airport

United flight 497, Airbus A320, had an uneventful take off from Louis Armstrong International airport Monday, April 4, at approximately 7:07 am. Heading south, at about 4000 feet, one of the pilots reported a “smoke issue with the airplane” to the tower and requested a vector back to the airport. “We’d like the longest runway please” was requested after approach control directed a 030 right turn and to maintain 4000 feet.

Moments later the captain declared an emergency and all efforts from the airport were made to assist the crippled airliner. It proceeded to the north east while awaiting instructions. Maintenance crews working on runway 10, the longest runway at MSY, were directed, and worked to clear the cones and vehicles for a safe landing. But, it became evident that they were not going to have it cleared in time, “Tower, we an start trying to pull them off, but I don’t think we will get them all off in time.”

As the tower proceeds to give instructions to UA 497 returning them to the airport and working as fast as they can to clear runway 10, UA 497 informs them, “We’ve lost all our instruments right now and we’re going to need (directions).

The tower continues to give vectoring instructions and assistance as UA 497 proceed to land runway 19 with fire trucks and equipment standing by.

“We’re going to need runway 10 operational, Runway 19er is fouled at this time” the tower instructs the airport crews as UA 497 makes a safe but damaged landing resting with the nose wheel in grass.

First Officer told an AP reporter, “When things go wrong, there’s always a system…we can go back to”, after explaining that after losing all electronics, the plane had minimal steering and braking ability.

TRANSCRIPT OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER, PILOT CONVERSATION

UA 497: Clear for takeoff runway 19, thank for you very much.

UA 497: We need to vector back to the airport, we got a smoke issue with the airplane.

N.O. Approach: Turn right 030 (degrees) and maintain 4,000 (feet.)

UA 497: 030 4,000. And we’d like the longest runway please.

N.O. Approach: There are men and equipment on the runway – they’re going to try to get them off now. Descend at pilot’s discretion. Maintain 2,000.

UA 497: We are declaring an emergency and please roll equipment for our landing please.

N.O. Approach: We are unable for (runway) 10, can you take (runway) 19?

UA 497: ..no..

N.O. Approach: Roger, we are clearing the runway now.

Airport operations: How much time do we have?

New Orleans Tower: I’d say they are about 11 miles to the west.

Airport operations: Tower, we can start trying to pull them off, but I don’t think we will get them all off in time.

N.O. Approach: United 497, Say souls on board and fuel remaining.

UA 497: 106 souls on board, fuel remaining 32,400 pounds.

N.O. Approach: They are still trying to get all the vehicles off the runway and 19 is still available if you like….

New Orleans Tower: … working as fast as they can (unintelligible) There is a bunch of equipment on there they’re tying to get off now.

UA 497: You need to clear it for us.

New Orleans Tower: I understand, sir. We’re getting them off as fast as we can.

N.O. Approach: Turn right heading 140, main 2,000 ….cleared ILS runway 10 approach.

New Orleans Tower: Can you verify the vehicles are exiting?

Airport operations: We are attempting to get the vehicles off right now, I’m removing the cones also.

New Orleans Tower: OK, cause I haven’t seen any of the vehicles move and the aircraft is ten to the northwest and they have to have runway 100.

N.O. Approach: United 497, Turn right heading 180.

UA 497: um…. We only have one… um … (Alarms sounding in background.)

N.O. Approach: United 497 say again sir?

New Orleans Tower: We need three minutes to get the runway clear.

UA 497: (alarms blaring) We’ve lost all our instruments right now and we’re going to need (directions)

N.O. Approach: United turn left heading, 20 degrees left

N.O. Approach: Just continue left turn, I’ll tell you when to stop.

UA 497: (unintelligible) What vector are we from the airport?

N.O. Approach: Right now sir you are on the 330 degree heading from the airport. Northwest of the airport for runway 19er. If you continue on this present heading you’ll set up on the shoreline for 19.

UA 497: Shoreline for 19.

N.O. Approach: I can set u up there or I can vector you, what’d you need?

UA 497: That’s fine.

N.O. Approach: (unintelligible…)You got the water, right?

UA 497: Yeah, we got the water and we’re going to stop here about 600 feet.

N.O. Approach: Roger that. The airport’s currently at your 1 o’clock and five miles.

UA 497: 1 o’clock and five miles roger.

New Orleans Tower to fire crews: Fox-6, next arrival runway 19er is our aircraft. And the aircraft is approximately 3 miles northwest runway 19er.

N.O. Approach: If you start your right turn now I can set you up on final.

UA 497: Start turn on final.

New Orleans Tower to fire crews: The aircraft is over the shoreline around two miles out. You do have permission to proceed on to the runway after he lands.

N.O. Approach: Make a right turn. The airport is off to yoru right side,

N.O. Approach: 497, clear to land 19er. You’ll be able to make it sir? Winds 180 at 16, gusts to 20, Clear to land. Runway 19er.

New Orleans Tower to fire trucks: Fox-5, this is our aircraft touvh ing down bow.

New Orleans Tower: Follow the aircraft down the runway.

New Orleans Tower: We’re going to need runway 10 operational. Runway 19er is fouled at this time.

Fox-5: The aircraft is off the runway.