Aug. 17—Smoke trailed out behind a Boeing 737's right engine flying out of William P. Hobby Airport Tuesday due to a mechanical issue, forcing the Southwest Airlines plane to return to the airport, Southwest officials said.
The flight, bound for Cancun International Airport, returned within 30 minutes of its departure. The plane was able to taxi to the gate safely where passengers deplaned. The FAA said it will investigate the incident, according to a statement.
Video from the ground of flames from the jet was posted on several media sites, included Houston Chronicle news partner KTRK-TV ABC 13.
"We felt like a little air pocket going up. And then I heard the boom ... and then you started smelling the fuel," Jordan Kleinecke, a passenger on the flight, told the TV station.
No passengers were harmed during the incident, and they were later transferred to a different plane, per a statement from Southwest Airlines.
The Houston Fire Department was deployed by Hobby Airport, as is regular in this kind of emergency, said Augusto Bernal, director of communications for the Houston Airport System.
After the plane landed, the fire department stayed with the aircraft for about 45 minutes, and the plane was eventually deemed fire safe, Bernal said.
"The aircraft landed safely and was taken out of service for review," the Southwest Airlines statement read. "[We] appreciate our customers' patience and support."
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