Plane makes emergency landing at Indianapolis airport; passengers and crew safely evacuated
(INDIANAPOLIS) — An American Airlines flight was forced to land at Indianapolis International Airport on Wednesday afternoon due to an “aircraft emergency.”
The flight took off from Greensboro, North Carolina, at 12:55 p.m. and landed in Indianapolis around 2:25 p.m., according to FlightAware. It was heading to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
Wayne Township Fire Department was called to the airport and said on Facebook the plane landed safely. Airport fire crews are investigating smoke in the luggage compartment.
The passengers and crew were safely evacuated, the department said.
The IND airport issued an update at 5:40 p.m. Wednesday:
“An American Airlines flight traveling from Greensboro, N.C. to Chicago was diverted to the Indianapolis International Airport (IND) this afternoon at approximately 2:15 p.m. The Indianapolis Airport Authority’s emergency police, fire, and public safety response team, along with mutual emergency-response aid from surrounding communities, were in position in anticipation of an emergency landing. The aircraft landed safely on runway 23 R and passengers were evacuated from the aircraft and boarded onto buses to be shuttled to the terminal. The airport operations team escorted the aircraft to the gate. For further details about the diverted landing, please consult American Airlines.”
Indianapolis International Airport statement