Volcano Causes Trouble For Flight...04/27/00

CATANIA, Sicily (AP) - An eruption of Sicily's Mount Etna volcano sent a cloud of burning ash into the path of a commercial airliner Wednesday, cracking the cockpit window and forcing the crew to abort the flight. There were no injuries among the crew or the 141 passengers on the Air Europe flight. The Milan-bound flight returned safely to the Sicilian city of Catania, from which it had taken off minutes earlier. The volcano erupted for 30 minutes soon after daylight Wednesday, sending up a fountain of lava and a column of smoking ash. Wind sent the ash drifting toward the Airbus 320, engulfing it. The plane was grounded at Catania's airport for the day so the crew could check for mechanical problems. Etna's last major eruption was in 1992; lesser eruptions come every few months.

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