Plane turns back to Chisholm-Hibbing Airport

Mesaba Saab turboprop aircraft
A Saab turboprop aircraft at MSP, part of the Mesaba fleet. A Mesaba plane bound from Hibbing to Minneapolis was forced to return Hibbing airport when it experienced engine trouble.
MPR Photo/Jeff Horwich

A Mesaba Airlines flight had just taken off when the pilots reported a failed engine and returned to Chisholm-Hibbing Airport.

Passenger Terry Lawler says she heard a noise from the side of the twin-engine aircraft when it took off. She says she assumed it was ice build up, but watched as the propeller started and stopped.

Pilots told passengers about the engine failure. Lawler says she was confident the pilots would get them down safely.

The flight carried 18 passengers and three crew members bound for Minneapolis. It only made it about two miles from Hibbing.

Emergency personnel rushed to the airport, but the plane made a safe return.

Airline spokeswoman Leslie Parker said she was not allowed to elaborate on the plane's mechanical problem.

------

Information from: The Daily Tribune, http://www.hibbingmn.com/placed/

Dear reader,

Your voice matters. And we want to hear it.

Will you help shape the future of Minnesota Public Radio by taking our short Listener Survey?

It only takes a few minutes, and your input helps us serve you better—whether it’s news, culture, or the conversations that matter most to Minnesotans.

Volume Button
Volume
Now Listening To Livestream
MPR News logo
On Air
On the Media with Brooke Gladstone