Boston-Bound Flight Makes Emergency Landing In Delaware
BOSTON (CBS) --- A flight from Washington's Dulles Airport to Boston made an emergency landing at a county airport in Delaware, Wednesday morning.
According to passengers on the flight, the plane began losing altitude rapidly, the oxygen masks came down and the cabin filled with smoke.
Shashi Bellamkonda lives in the Washington, D.C. area and was making the trip to Boston.
"It was supposed to be a routine, 40 minute flight," Bellamkonda said. "Suddenly midway through the flight, the oxygen masks dropped down. No one was grabbing the masks or screaming. The cabin crew made an announcement to use the masks."
Bellamkonda said his fellow passengers seemed calm but he did feel nervous when he saw smoke.
Bellamkonda said he snapped a "selfie" of himself and a fellow passenger "to leave behind for loved ones."
"When you come into the Wilmington airport, you pass over a lot of water, all of us were just hoping we wouldn't be making a water landing," he said.
The flight was a United Express CRJ 700, operated by Mesa Airlines.
According to Delaware River and Bay Authority, the problems were caused by the onboard oxygen generator.
Sixty-one passengers and four crew members were onboard.
"At approximately 9:50 a.m. EST, Mesa Airlines, flight 3759, a Canadian Regional Jet, diverted to the New Castle Airport, Wilmington, DE after the pilot reported smoke in the aircraft. The aircraft landed safely. The flight originated at Washington-Dulles International Airport and was enroute to Boston Logan International Airport," the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.
A new plane is expected to arrive at the county airport later this afternoon to complete the trip to Boston.
No injuries were reported.