Emergency Evacuation Slide Deploys Midair On United Flight

Plane Diverted After Emergency Chute Opens In Mid-Flight

June 30 (Reuters) - A United Airlines flight bound for southern California with 101 people on board was diverted to Wichita, Kansas on Sunday night after an emergency evacuation chute inflated inside the aircraft in mid-flight, the airline said.

United flight 1463, which was carrying 96 passengers with five crew members on board, was bound for Orange County's John Wayne Airport, south of Los Angeles, when the emergency chute accidentally deployed, the airline said.

"The flight diverted to Wichita ... No one was injured and the flight landed safely," United said in a statement. The Boeing 737-700 took off from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

United said all passengers were seated at the time of the incident and added that earlier reports that a passenger had attempted to open the door in flight were false.

It said its maintenance team would inspect the aircraft to determine what happened.

(Reporting by Chris Michaud; Editing by Catherine Evans)

Before You Go

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot