Cabin smoke aborts takeoff from GR

CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - A United Airlines regional jet from Grand Rapids to Denver aborted its takeoff after smoke was noticed in the cockpit.

The passengers from United flight 3654 were evacuated from the plane onto the tarmac at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Cascade Township around 5 p.m. Tuesday.

"You heard a pop, then you could see the smoke, then you could smell it." said passenger Jim Goenner of Mount Pleasant. "My wife was the first to notice it. Then when the flight attendant was on the radio and looked in the back, all of a sudden he became quite alarmed, and told us to get off, and was being very orderly, like get off now."

As soon as smoke was detected, the takeoff was aborted and the plane was parked on the runway.

Firefighters were called onto the tarmac to check the plane and find the source of the smoke. The plane remained on the runway for some time.

The cause of the smoke was not yet determined as of Tuesday evening.

No one was injured.

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A statement from United Airlines, released Wednesday morning --

"GoJet Airlines Flight 3654, operating as United Express, from Grand Rapids, Mich., to Denver, aborted takeoff yesterday (October 9) due to smoke in the cabin. The flight's scheduled departure was 4:48 pm EDT and scheduled arrival in Denver was 5:37 pm MDT. The flight departed from the gate two minutes early at 4:46 EDT, and aborted takeoff on the runway. The passengers were evacuated and bussed to the terminal. The CRJ700 regional jet carried 68 passengers, including two infants, plus four crew members. The customers have been rebooked on other flights to Denver. The aircraft remains in Grand Rapids while it undergoes a thorough inspection by our maintenance technicians to find and repair the problem."