Air Canada flight makes emergency landing in Madrid after engine issue

A mechanical issue reported shortly after takeoff Monday on an Air Canada flight from Madrid to Toronto prompted the plane’s pilot to return to Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport for an emergency landing, according to multiple reports.

A spokeswoman for Spanish airport operations company AENA told Bloomberg that Flight AC 837 experienced an engine issue that prompted the return. Airline officials added that a tire also reportedly ruptured on the plane, which is equipped with nine other tires.

A spokeswoman for AENA told Reuters that Air Canada contacted air traffic control 30 minutes after the plane took off Monday to request space for an emergency landing. Company officials told Bloomberg 128 passengers were on board as the flight circled the airport to burn off fuel Monday.

Officials with SEPLA, Spain's pilots' union, said in a statement posted on Twitter that part of the Air Canada Boeing 767's landing gear fell off and went into one of the plane's engines. Officials didn't immediately confirm the report.

The plane landed safely around 7:15 p.m. local time, according to Canada’s Global News.

© 2020 Cox Media Group