By Canadian Press

Toronto-bound Air Canada plane to make emergency landing at Madrid airport

Feb 3, 2020 | 10:29 AM

A Toronto-bound Air Canada plane is preparing to make an emergency landing at Madrid’s international airport due to an engine problem and reported tire rupture, the airline says.

The Boeing 767 carrying 128 passengers is circling southeast of Adolfo Suarez-Barajas airport “to use up fuel and lighten the aircraft for landing,” the carrier said Monday morning.

The “engine issue” occurred shortly after take-off,” according to Air Canada. “A tire also reportedly ruptured on take-off, one of 10 on this model of aircraft.”

Ignacio Montesinos, a spokesman for Spain’s airport operator, said the pilot radioed the tower citing an “emergency.”

“Our pilots are fully trained for this eventuality,” Air Canada said in an email.

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Flight-tracking website Flightradar24 shows the aircraft, which took off from Adolfo at about 3 p.m. local time, circling the airspace above Madrid for more than two and a half hours.

Madrid’s main airport faced problems earlier Monday, as Spanish authorities say Adolfo shut down for more than an hour after reported drone sightings, diverting 26 flights to other airports.

Flight AC837 was bound for Toronto’s Pearson airport, which shows the arrival delayed by more than seven hours.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 3, 2020.

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Christopher Reynolds, The Canadian Press