Austrian Airlines reports problem with Bombardier Q400

Austrian Airlines Group says a faulty propeller part on a Canadian-made Bombardier Q400 plane forced the pilot to turn back on the runway at Vienna International Airport on Monday.

"This was purely a security precaution — the passengers were never in any danger," Austrian spokeswoman Pia Stradiot told the Associated Press on Wednesday.

The problem follows Scandinavian Airlines System's decision Sunday to remove its Q400s from service, after three of its turboprops had landing-gear accidents in less than two months.

On Monday, Austrian Airlines said it had inspected its 10 Q400 planes after SAS reported one of the landing-gear problems in September.

"According to current findings, our trust in the Dash 8-400 fleet is unbroken, particularly as we have carried out around 116,000 takeoffs and landings with the fleet, without any problems," Austrian AirlinesCEO Alfred Otsch said in the news release.

"The Dash 8-400 has proven to be a very reliable and safe turboprop," he added.

In the Austrian Airlines incident, the pilot discovered the problem and the passengers completed their trip on another aircraft. The propeller part was replaced.

The European Union's aviation safety authority, the European Aviation Safety Agency, has called for a meeting with Bombardier to discuss the Q400 turboprops.

The Montreal-based Bombardier assembles the aircraft at its Downsview plant in Toronto.

Bombardier stock closed up 33 cents at $5.60 in TSX trading, regaining the ground it lost after the SAS decision.