A UPS McDonnell Douglas MD-11F operating a freighter service from Portland, OR to Ontario, CA diverted to Sacramento after reporting smoke in the cockpit on 4 September 2024.
UPS flight 5X975, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11F freighter had departed Portland International Airport and was en route to Ontario International Airport.
UPS 5X975 Portland-Ontario (ONT)
During cruising flight in the vicinity of Sacramento, flight crew reported a burning odour and the presence of smoke in the cockpit.
The crew donned oxygen masks and made the decision to initiate a precautionary diversion to nearby Sacramento Mather Airport (MHR).
The aircraft landed without incident at Sacramento (MHR) and was brought to a stop on the runway as a precaution. Flight crew then evacuated the aircraft via an emergency slide.
Sacramento emergency services were alerted and the aircraft was towed from the active runway. There were no injuries reported as a result of the in-flight incident.
Flight Details
Flight data shows that the flight 5X975 made an on-time departure out of Portland International Airport. Actual time of departure was logged at 1957 local time on 4 September. The aircraft then set course normally, climbing to flight level FL390 (39,000 feet) for the southerly route to California.
The flight had passed the beam Sacramento approximately 100 nautical miles to the east when the incident occurred. The diversion course was then set for Sacramento Mather Airport.
The aircraft conducting the 5X975 freighter service to California was a McDonnell Douglas MD-11F, registered N276UP. This is a 28.5 year old converted freighter aircraft belonging to the carrier United Parcel Service (UPS).
It has been operational service with the operator since its conversion in December 2003. Prior to its conversion to a freighter configuration, the aircraft saw service with Japan airlines as a passenger aircraft from its initial delivery in April 1996.
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