What happened
On 23 November 2007, an Airbus A319, registration CS-TTK, was performing a scheduled commercial passenger flight from London Heathrow Airport to Lisbon. Shortly after the aircraft departed from Runway 09L, the chief purser notified the flight crew of dense smoke appearing in the rear passenger cabin, accompanied by a distinct smell of burnt plastic.
In response to the situation, the flight crew declared a MAYDAY and requested permission to return to the airport. Air Traffic Control instructed the aircraft to squawk 770 and provided vectors for an approach to Runway 09R. While the aircraft was on its approach, the smoke in the cabin dissipated. The aircraft subsequently completed a normal landing, taxied to the stand, and shut down without further incident. All 97 persons on board (6 crew and 91 passengers) disembarked normally, and no injuries were reported.
The investigation
Following the event, the aircraft operator conducted an internal investigation to locate the origin of the smoke. This process included a thorough inspection of the entire cabin area, including the galleys, ovens, toilets, and cabin lighting systems. Additionally, the engines, the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), and the cargo holds were examined for any signs of fire or malfunction.
During the inspection, the fire service also examined the aircraft, but no evidence of burning was discovered. The operator's investigation found no anomalies in the engines or APU, and no source for the smoke could be identified.
Findings
- The smoke and smell of burning plastic were reported in the rear of the cabin shortly after takeoff.
- The source of the smoke could not be identified despite extensive inspections of the cabin, galleys, and cargo areas.
- No evidence of burning was found in the engines, APU, or cargo bays.