Plane Forced to Turn Around and Make Emergency Landing in Houston, Passengers Evacuate via Slides

Passengers had to evacuate a Southwest Airlines plane at Houston's William P. Hobby International Airport on Thursday, April 17, the airline, the Houston Airports and the Houston Fire Department (HFD) said in separate statements obtained by PEOPLE.

Southwest Airlines Flight 3006 first departed from the Hobby airport en route to Cabo San Lucas/Los Cabos, Mexico. But around 11:15 a.m., the plane began to return to the airport, reporting an engine fire, HFD said.

Around 11:30 a.m., the plane landed safely “and was able to stop safely on a taxiway,” per the Houston Airports’ statement. “Slides on the aircraft were deployed so passengers could evacuate safely.”

"HFD Airport Rescue Firefighters (ARFF) were in place as the plane landed," and it was extinguished "within minutes of the plane's landing," the HFD said. Adding that a small grass fire near the runway was also extinguished.

Related: Southwest Plane Makes Emergency Landing in Colorado After Flight Attendants Smelled Smoke in Cabin

None of the 134 passengers needed medical attention. They were then shuttled off the taxiway and back to the terminal. “Southwest is working to accommodate its Customers to their final destination,” the airline’s statement read.

“We appreciate the professionalism of our Flight Crew in responding to this situation. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of our Customers and Employees,” the statement concluded.

Related: Southwest Airlines Pilot Makes Emergency Landing After Engine Fire Fills Cabin with Smoke

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the incident. 

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