An Icelandair captain told passengers abroad a flight to Iceland that “he’s in control” after the pilot made an emergency stop in Canada.
Flight FI688 was forced to make a dramatic emergency landing when a crack was found in the cockpit window.
Despite the emergency landing, no injuries were reported.
The incident occurred as the Boeing 757 aircraft started its journey flying from Orlando, Florida, to Keflavik, Iceland, USA Today reports. The plane quickly diverted over Canada and landed in Quebec.
One passenger aboard the flight took to Twitter to describe what happened in detail:
“OMG cockpit window shattered in plane,” Harrison Hove tweeted. “Rapid descent on Icelandair flight FI688 Orlando MCO to KEF. Emergency crews responding. Passengers are SAFE from what I can tell. I’m in main cabin.”
Update: Captain says his left window shattered and had to bring us down rapidly. We had to go down immediately. “This plane is not going anywhere.” Airport police told us we cannot deplane because there is no passport control at this airport. #icelandair #orlando Flight FI688
— Harrison Hove (@HarrisonHove) October 20, 2018
Hove said the incident was “traumatic” and left people “upset” because passengers weren’t told what was happening until after the aircraft landed.
Airline crewmember allegedly shared with passengers that the crack measured to approximately 20 centimeters.
An Icelandair spokesman told Express.co.uk that, “Flight FI688 from Orlando to Iceland was on route over Canada on Friday night, 19 October, when pilots noticed a crack in one of the cockpit windows.
“Following standard procedures, they diverted to a nearby airport in Bagotville.
“The passengers were taken to a hotel overnight and another aircraft picked them up on Saturday 20 October to continue their journey.”
“This is scary. Honestly, our pilot was amazing,” Hove said once the plane landed.
This is scary. Honestly our pilot was amazing. #icelandair #orlando #reyjkavik #ygb #bagotville https://t.co/2YblZojqIw
— Harrison Hove (@HarrisonHove) October 20, 2018
Another emergency landing also took place on a Southern California highway recently.
The California Highway Patrol said the plane landed safely in the westbound lanes of Interstate 8 in El Cajon after reporting engine trouble.
Authorities told the Associated Press that the single-engine Piper was carrying a 25-year-old pilot and a 36-year-old student.