NTSB investigating emergency landing of Emery jet

DAYTON — Federal safety regulators are investigating the emergency landing of an Emery Worldwide Airlines cargo plane that occurred last week in Denver after parts of an engine housing broke apart and damaged the aircraft, the Dayton Daily News reported Wednesday.

The four-engine DC-8 jet was on a flight from Seattle to Dayton on Thursday when an engine cowling broke apart, causing some structural damage to the plane and engine, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

No injuries to the three-man crew were reported.

Thomas Rachford, chairman of the Air Line Pilots Association, which represents Emery pilots in labor negotiations, said the plane was cruising at 31,000 feet when the cowling blew off and put two basketball-size holes in the fuselage.

The engine lost power, and the plane lost cabin pressure, Rachford said.

FAA spokeswoman Kirsti Dunn said the crew diverted the plane to Denver and landed safely. The National Transportation Safety Board is reviewing the incident.

Emery spokesman Rocco Sacci said the crew followed normal procedures for the circumstances. He said the plane will be taken to a repair site.

Emery, which is based in Redwood City, Calif., operates its North American sorting hub at Dayton International Airport.