Helicopter smoke alert 23/12/11
A Coastguard rescue helicopter has been taken out of service after a fire scare onboard the aircraft.
A full scale emergency was declared at Stornoway airport on Thursday evening when the captain of the Stornoway Coastguard search and rescue helicopter broadcasted a Pan Pan urgent safety alert.
The aircraft was flying on a training exercise and the crew believed they could smell smoke.
The local authority fire tenders from the town raced to the scene to supplement the airport’s own fire crews who were waiting at the helicopter landing pad.
Police closed off the main Point road which runs past the airport runway.
A spare helicopter based at Stornoway immediately took over the maritime emergency duties.
Aviation engineers are examining the aircraft for the source of any potential fault.