Plane defect grounds US troops in Prague for Thanksgiving

Some 220 US soldiers missed their Thanksgiving turkeys after a plane flying them home from Kuwait had to make an emergency landing in Prague, the soldiers and authorities said Thursday.

"I didn't really think I would make it home for Thanksgiving. I was hopeful, but if it didn't happen, I wouldn't be surprised," Major J. Schulte, one of the soldiers, told AFP.

The plane -- a commercial charter, according to US embassy spokesman John Vance -- landed at Prague airport at 00:20 local time (2320 GMT on Wednesday) after pilots smelled smoke in the cockpit.

"They asked us to call rescue teams," but no mechanical or electronic defect was confirmed, Prague airport spokeswoman Eva Krejci told AFP.

Krejci added that a spare plane to take the soldiers home had landed in Prague on Thursday afternoon, but the troops will only depart after midnight.

"I've been on the military for 22 years and I was on the military before I got married so my wife understands," said Schulte.

"We're trained for chaos so when things happen, it's just a minor change in the plan. But still..." he added.

The troops, travelling home for two weeks' leave, were taken to an airport hotel for the night.

Those sitting in the hotel restaurant on Thursday afternoon showed little disappointment about the mishap and praised the goulash, chicken and pasta they had for lunch instead.

If they do have a Thanksgiving party in Prague, they will have to forget about the famous Czech beer -- the main tourist attraction in the historic city for travellers from all over the world.

"When the US army goes abroad, we don't drink any more. The general gives an order and it's an order," Schulte said over a glass of Coke.

He added he had links to Prague as his sister-in-law's family is of Czech origin.

He also hails from Cedar Rapids in Iowa, the home to the National Czech and Slovak Museum which is currently undergoing reconstruction after it fell victim to heavy floods last year.

"If I could plan a place to have an emergency layover, it could be here," he said smiling.