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Passengers, crew of United Airlines flight safe following emergency landing in Albuquerque
A United Airlines jet and a Southwest Airlines plane wait to take on passengers in April at the Albuquerque International Sunport.
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All passengers and crew on a large commercial flight were declared safe Saturday when their plane diverted to Albuquerque after the crew reported smoke in the cockpit, officials said.
United Airlines Flight 2225 landed normally around 11:45 a.m. at Albuquerque International Sunport, where it was briefly inspected by crews, spokespersons with the airline and the Federal Aviation Administration said.
The 234 passengers and six crew members traveling from Chicago to Phoenix were rerouted by United to fly on a different plane to get to their destinations, said Erin Jankowski, a United spokesperson, in an email to the Journal on Monday. She said the airline did not have any more information to share and spokespersons with the Sunport and the FAA referred the Journal to United for details on the emergency landing.
The hampered flight is not the first one in New Mexico that the FAA has investigated in recent months, according to a review of statements on accidents from the agency's website and previous news reports.
Renowned stunt pilot, aerospace engineer and flight instructor Charles T. "Chuck" Coleman died at the scene of the Las Cruces Air and Space Expo during on aerobatic performance on Oct. 20.
On Oct. 11, three passengers were uninjured after their balloon hit a radio tower shortly after launching from Balloon Fiesta Park in Albuquerque.
On Oct. 9, two passengers, including one with non-life-threatening injuries, were rescued in Rio Rancho after their hot air balloon became lodged in a tree.
