Faulty AC responsible for smoke in plane in Helsinki

The smoke that triggered the evacuation of a Czech Airlines Airbus last Friday in Helsinki came from faulty air conditioning equipment, investigators said on Monday.

Ismo Aaltonen, chief inspector at the Finnish Accident Investigation Authority, told national broadcaster Yle that there had been no danger of a fire erupting aboard, albeit the equipment emitted smoke and scent.

"Apparently data about a fault had not reached the cockpit," Aaltonen said.

The investigation will now take up the problems during the evacuation.

Many passengers had tried to take their hand luggage with them. When told not to, they had left their bags on the aisle slowing the exit of others.

Aaltonen said the problem has been encountered also in other evacuations internationally.

"The passenger safety instructions say that luggage must be left behind in an evacuation," Aaltonen noted.

Media pictures also showed passengers who had come down the chutes with their luggage. Passengers had also pushed each other.

Ongoing analysis of the black boxes will divulge the details of the evacuation.