Plane scare for Aus PM in Iraq
18/03/2007 08:08  - (SA)  

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Sydney - A plane carrying Australian Prime Minister John Howard was forced to make an emergency landing in Iraq after the cabin began to fill with smoke shortly after take-off, reports said on Sunday.

Howard was on a secret visit to southern Iraq on Saturday when the RAAF C-130 Hercules was forced back to Tallil airbase.

The plane, which was carrying 30 people including the head of the Australian defence force air marshal Angus Houston, filled with smoke soon after taking off from Tallil.

The pilot turned the plane around as it reached an altitude of about 1 500m, forcing passengers to wear oxygen masks as the plane dropped into a rapid descent.

Reporters travelling with the prime minister said Howard appeared relaxed after the incident.

"I'm fine. I was in very good hands. You can't get any better than the RAAF," he said.

"It was a really good performance, and I want to thank everyone."

Howard, who last week visited Australian troops in Afghanistan, boarded a second plane 20 minutes after the incident and continued his trip to Baghdad.

- SAPA

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