Aviation

Alaska Airlines flight diverted after smoke comes from credit card reader

BUFFALO, N.Y. —A Seattle-bound flight from New Jersey has made an emergency landing in Buffalo after smoke was detected in the galley.

Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority spokesman Doug Hartmayer says Alaska Airlines Flight 17 was diverted to Buffalo Niagara International Airport at about 8 a.m. Monday.

Alaska Airlines spokeswoman Halley Knigge says a credit card reader started smoking from what appears to be a melting battery. Hartmayer says the crew sprayed it with a fire extinguisher. There were no injuries among the 184 passengers and crew of five.

Hartmayer says firefighters boarded the Boeing 737 to check it out. He says passengers were taken to the terminal and offered medical assistance.

It wasn't initially known if they'll resume their flight on the same aircraft. Flight 17 originates in Newark. It's usually scheduled to land in Seattle at 12:55 p.m.

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