The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating after a United Airlines Express flight was forced into an emergency landing in Houston on Wednesday when pilots reported smoke and electrical failures. Flight 4969, operated by regional carrier CommuteAir, had just taken off for Panama City, Florida, when the cockpit filled with smoke. “They are having electrical issues. They are losing electrical,” an air traffic controller told emergency crews, according to LiveATC.net recordings. The regional jet circled back to George Bush Intercontinental Airport and landed safely before being parked on a taxiway. Pilots then requested a tow to the terminal. Social media footage shows the jet parked up as smoke billows from it. CommuteAir later described the scare as “a potential maintenance issue” and confirmed that all passengers were returned safely to the gate. “We apologize for this inconvenience and are preparing a new aircraft to operate the flight to ECP,” said Jason Kadah, CommuteAir’s managing director of communications.
BREAKING | Plane Smoking at George Bush Intercontinental Airport CommuteAir Flight 4969 headed to Panama City returned to Houston due to a potential maintenance issue. Passengers were safely removed, and no injuries or threats were reported. #ProtectTheWorld
