Generator failure forces
isle-bound jet to turn around

American Trans Air's flight lands
safely after dumping its fuel

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Associated Press

LOS ANGELES >> Two electrical generators failed aboard a Hawaii-bound jet with 373 people aboard yesterday, forcing its pilot to dump its load of fuel over the Pacific Ocean and return to Los Angeles, officials said.

The American Trans Air L-1011 landed safely at Los Angeles International Airport at 9:45 a.m., airport spokeswoman Nancy Castles said.

There were no injuries among its 360 passengers and 13 crew members.

"There was a big burst of happiness and joy. People seemed to be quite happy," passenger Phil Clapick, 61, who was heading to Oahu and Maui for a week of vacation, said of the landing.

The pilot announced 30 minutes after the 8 a.m. takeoff of Flight 745 that the plane had lost two generators and was relying on a third, backup generator, Clapick said.

The pilot repeatedly told passengers there was no cause for concern, Clapick said.

"We always treat anything like that as serious because we have a very high standard for safety," said Lisa Jacobson Brown, a spokeswoman for the Indianapolis-based airline. "Obviously, we are not going to take any chances."

Passengers were expected to continue on to Honolulu on a replacement aircraft in the early afternoon, Castles said.