6 Hurt During Emergency Landing

Six passengers suffered minor injuries when a Spirit Airlines jet made an emergency landing at Atlantic City airport in New Jersey. Flight 945 developed engine trouble about ten minutes after it left the airport yesterday afternoon. It was headed to Fort Myers, Florida, with 74 passengers and six crew members aboard.

The twin-engine MD-80 then returned to the airport. The six passengers were hurt as they evacuated the plane by sliding down an emergency chute onto the runway.

Airport officials say smoke was seen coming from the right engine after the plane landed, but no flames were observed.

They say the smoke may have been caused by a faulty generator.

The airport was closed for about 20 minutes after the plane landed, and two other incoming Spirit flights, from Fort Myers and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, were diverted to Philadelphia International Airport.

Author: 6 ABC-AP