EVERYBODY OUT

Southwest Airlines Passengers Evacuated Onto Wing After Engine Fire

The Boeing jet lost its right engine just 30 minutes into its Mexico-bound flight.

Southwest Airlines passengers on a Mexico-bound flight were forced to evacuate the aircraft after an engine malfunction caused a fire. The plane, a Boeing 737-700, lifted off from Houston William P. Hobby Airport Thursday morning before it hit trouble, with its right engine being lost. The Southwest flight was headed for Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, when it was forced to turn around and land back in Texas at 11:15 a.m, just 30 minutes into its journey. Videos from the scene showed the 134 passengers evacuating, with some of them lining up on the wing of the aircraft. Passengers were evacuated via slides. Firefighters extinguished a blaze in the engine and a fire on the nearby grass bank, Air Live reported. A Southwest spokesperson told the Daily Beast: “Southwest Airlines Flight 3006 landed safely at William P. Houston Hobby Airport Thursday morning after returning due to a reported engine issue. The Crew followed procedures and assisted all 134 passengers in evacuating the aircraft. Southwest accommodated its Customers to Cabo San Lucas/Los Cabos, Mexico.” The airline commended “the professionalism” of the crew in responding to the situation. “Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of our Customers and Employees,” they added.

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