An American Airlines plane was diverted Sunday to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston after a furnace fire was reported shortly after takeoff, officials said.
Airport Operations and the Houston Fire Department responded and declared the plane safe about 30 minutes later, the Houston Airport System said in an emailed statement.
An American Airlines spokesperson confirmed in a statement issued Sunday that there was a “mechanical issue on board” due to the oven located in the front concourse.
The spokesman said that the airline's maintenance team evaluated the plane after it landed.
The flight departed from Austin, Texas, and was headed to Charlotte, North Carolina, when it was diverted to Houston. An American Airlines spokesman added that the Boeing 737-800 plane landed safely and without incident in Houston and headed to the gate under its own power on Sunday.
“We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience and appreciate our team members for their professionalism. We are currently working to assist affected customers, who are scheduled to return to [Charlotte] “Later tonight,” the spokesman said at the time.
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