Powder falling inside SJ-bound plane triggers haz-mat response

SF Gate – by Michael Bodley

A white powder that fell from an air vent in the galley of an Alaska Airlines plane from Seattle that went on to land at San Jose International Airport Thursday night triggered a hazardous material response team to sweep through the plane when it landed, a spokeswoman said.

Two flight attendants on Flight 322, which departed Seattle just before 5 p.m., reported feeling ill after the powder intermittently sprinkled down from an air vent in the galley at the front of the plane, said the spokeswoman, Ann Zaninovich.  

One was taken to a hospital to be evaluated, she said, adding that no passengers reported any symptoms and the plane’s pilots were not affected.

A preliminary investigation into the plane, which landed just before 7 p.m., revealed that the substance was probably residue from the aircraft’s de-icing system, which isn’t toxic, she said.

Emergency crews — including the San Jose Fire Department and its haz-mat team — boarded the plane “to determine what exactly was happening on board,” said Rosemary Barnes, a spokeswoman for the airport. She said emergency personnel met the plane at its gate soon after it taxied in.

Passengers were released from the held plane sometime before 8 p.m. and were waiting in the baggage claim for their belongings, Barnes said.

The plane, a Boeing 737-900, was taken out of service for the time being, Zaninovich said.

Michael Bodley is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mbodley@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @michael_bodley

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