PLANE’S ENGINE ON FIRE

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28800, 22 January 1959, Page 11

PLANE’S ENGINE ON FIRE

Mikoyan Lands At U.S. Base IN2. Press Association—Copyright) * (Rec. 8.30 p.m.) ARGENTIA (Newfoundland), January 21. A Scandinavian Airlines aeroplane carrying the Soviet First Deputy Premier (Mr Mikoyan) home from the United States caught fire over the Atlantic last night and made an emergency landing. The plane made its unexpected landing at a key United States Navy air, base, at Argentia, designed for the prevention of surprise Soviet attack. Only two of the DC-7’s four engines were operating when it landed in a snowstorm. It had been escorted by a Royal Canadian Air Force Lancaster patrol bomber, a Pan American Airways plane and an Air France Super-Constellation. Aboard the crippled plane were 48 persons*— eight crew members on duty, five airmen being flown back to Copenhagen, and 35 passengers, including two children.

The airline’s' headquarters in New York refused to comment on the possibility of sabotage. It said only that the plane had been carefully guarded ' and checked. About 200 New York City and airport policemen had stood vigil over the plane throughout the day before it left for Europe with Mr Mikoyan aboard. The four-engined DC-7 had been bound from New York to Copenhagen. Another plane was being flown in from Copenhagen and was expected to take off with the passengers about 2 p.m. G.M.T. today. The passengers spent the night at the luxurious bachelor officers’ club at the Navy base at Argentia. The pilot reported that one engine was. feathered and then that another engine- had caught fire. The fire was put out and the plane made the flight from about 200 miles south of Argentia on two engines. All emergency equipment and crash trucks were on the field when the crippled airliner landed. It was snowing at the time but the pilot came in without difficulty after a ground-controlled approach. Passengers said they did not know their plane was in trouble until they were about five minutes from -the field. Mr Elias Chabtn, K New York fur-buyer who was a passenger, said: “We were ‘ not at all perturbed. It,was announced over the plane's loudspeaker that one engine had burned out and trouble had developed in another and the pilot decided to land at Argentia. “He made a beautiful landing.” Mr Chabin said he could speak Russian and had talked with Mr Mikoyan and members of his party. “Mr Mikoyan remained very calm," he said. “After he got off the plane he strolled around the airport buildings and then watched some bowlers having a game in a bowling alley at the base. “Mr Mikoyan told me he was going to have dinner on the base at the bachelor officers’ quarters although we had a meal on the plane just before the , trouble developed.”

Arrests In China (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, January 20. Three Protestants and 10 Roman Catholics in Inner Mongolia were arrested by the Chinese Communists last, October for allegedly conspiring to overthrow the Peking regime. United Press International reported from Hong Kong. The “Inner Mongolia Daily” said two of the Catholics were sentenced to gaol terms —one for 20 years, the other for 15 years, said the report. The newspaper did not say what punishment was imposed on the other arrested persons.