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Plane with 156 people aboard makes emergency landing at Chattanooga Airport

A Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress from Houston Texas prepares to land at the Chattanooga Airport's Wilson Air Center on Monday, March 23, 2015. The Gulf Coast Wing of the Commemorative Air Force Texas Raiders fly the B-17 bomber to different towns throughout the United States educating the public on the WWII aircraft while offering them tours and flights.
A Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress from Houston Texas prepares to land at the Chattanooga Airport's Wilson Air Center on Monday, March 23, 2015. The Gulf Coast Wing of the Commemorative Air Force Texas Raiders fly the B-17 bomber to different towns throughout the United States educating the public on the WWII aircraft while offering them tours and flights. A Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress from Houston Texas prepares to land at the Chattanooga Airport's Wilson Air Center on Monday, March 23, 2015. The Gulf Coast Wing of the Commemorative Air Force Texas Raiders fly the B-17 bomber to different towns throughout the United States educating the public on the WWII aircraft while offering them tours and flights.

By Staff Report 2 min read

An airplane carrying 156 people made an emergency landing at the Chattanooga Airport around 8 a.m. today after encountering engine problems.

The Allegiant Air MD80 landed safely and no injuries were reported.

The plane took off in Orlando and was headed to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, said airport spokesman Albert Waterhouse. The plane was diverted to Chattanooga when the pilots discovered a problem with the right engine.

The airport had emergency personnel standing by, but the plane, Flight 760, landed without issue. The passengers were unloaded, and Allegiant Air sent a new plane to pick them up and deliver the group to Cedar Rapids.

That plane is expected to leave Chattanooga around 12:44 p.m., according to a statement from Allegiant’s media relations office. The office said that the downed plane was taken out of service and will be “thoroughly inspected” to determine the cause of the problem.

Any passengers who opt not to continue to Cedar Rapids will be given a refund, and passengers are also being offered $100 vouchers for future travel with Allegiant, according to the statement.

The office said that the plane landed out of an “abundance of caution.”

Three other Allegiant Air flights from Orlando have made emergency landings since Christmas Eve. One landed on Dec. 24 at Jacksonville International Airport due to a faulty indicator light. On Dec. 28, a flight landed in North Dakota after having a mechanical problem with its deicing equipment. A third emergency landing occurred in Rhode Island on Wednesday after passengers reported an abnormal smell that ended up being from a leaking air duct.

“All three diversions were for very different and unrelated reasons,” the airline said in the statement. “Our pilots are highly trained and Allegiant safety protocols emphasize putting the safety of passengers foremost in making any decision of this type.”

It said all the incidents were resolved safely and passengers received help getting to their final destinations.

The airline said the flights were among 212 that originated in Orlando in the past seven days.