Incident Summary
An MD-82 aircraft was parked at gate C-9 during nighttime operations. The jetway remained attached, and most passengers had already boarded. The aircraft's auxiliary power unit (APU) was inoperative, so electrical power was supplied by an external ground power unit. Cabin air conditioning was provided through an external ground source connected to the aircraft's right engine air conditioning system.
Sequence of Events
During the boarding process, the external electrical ground power unit failed. This failure resulted in the loss of cabin lighting, and the emergency floor track lights automatically illuminated. Simultaneously, smoke and fumes from the exhaust of the electrical ground power cart were drawn into the aircraft's cabin through the external air conditioning source. The presence of smoke was detected by both passengers and crew.
Evacuation
In response to the smoke, the aircraft was evacuated. All occupants exited via the forward left cabin door (L-1) through the attached jetway and into the terminal building. The evacuation was completed without any reported injuries.
Conclusion
The incident highlights the consequences of an external ground power unit failure combined with the ingestion of exhaust fumes into the cabin. No further details were provided regarding the operator, specific location beyond gate C-9, or any causal factors.