PM in Iraq plane scare

Prime Minister John Howard's plane was forced to make an emergency landing in war-torn Iraq yesterday when the cabin of the RAAF aircraft filled with thick smoke during a top-secret visit to Baghdad.

As the smoking C-130 Hercules landed at an army base 300km south-east of Baghdad, troops rushed Mr Howard from the tarmac, fearing the transport plane might explode.

The Hercules, carrying 30 people, including military personnel and media, filled with smoke soon taking off from the Tallil air base. As it reached an altitude of 5000 feet, it turned around.

The pilot made a rapid descent as passengers, wearing emergency gas masks, braced themselves for the landing. By the time the Hercules came to a shuddering halt on the tarmac two minutes later, smoke had engulfed the cabin and was billowing from the plane.

Although shaken, Mr Howard was unhurt by the 14-minute ordeal and continued his trip to Baghdad aboard a second aircraft 20 minutes later.