Engine smoke delays plane's take-off

An Alitalia plane bound for Milan was delayed in Malta yesterday after smoke was seen belching out of one of its engines minutes before take-off.

Witnesses said the aircraft, a McDonnell Douglas MD-82, was sitting on the airport's apron nine, exactly beneath the airport's waving gallery, when smoke started to billow from the engine on the starboard side.

Sources said the incident took place at about 11.50 a.m. immediately after the aircraft operating Alitalia flight AZ885 was granted permission to start taxiing.

Within minutes, three fire engines surrounded the aircraft. The 38 passengers on board were asked to disembark as a precautionary measure while fire fighters hosed the engine close to the aircraft's tail.

The plane left Malta at about 1 p.m. for Milan's Malpensa airport after checks were made to ensure it could fly safely.

The sources said the smoke could have been caused by a "compressor surge" in the aircraft's engine. This is a disruption of the airflow that can be caused by engine deterioration, ingestion of foreign material, or an internal component failure such as a broken blade.

In some cases, excess fuel in the engine's combustor due to a fuel control fault can result in flames extending from the engine's exhaust pipe.

"As alarming as this may appear, the engine itself would not actually be on fire. An oil release can also cause an oily mist. But such occurrences do not necessarily indicate an unsafe condition," the sources said.

Aviation records show the MD-82, called Modena, was purchased by Alitalia in April 1995.

The Malta International Airport said nothing about the incident and the Alitalia office at the MIA refused to give any information when contacted yesterday.