Sat, Nov 05, 2005
Jet Had Expedited Takeoff For WN Emergency
(UPDATE 11.05.05 0030 GMT: Reports now indicate
the aircraft involved in Saturday's mishap at Houston Hobby was a
Cessna Citation 500, not the newer III model as was previously
reported. Aero-News is awaiting further confirmation of the
actual aircraft, identities of the crew onboard, and circumstances
surrounding the accident -- Ed.)
A Cessna Citation III went down Saturday morning at Houston
Hobby airport while attempting an emergency landing, killing the
pilot and copilot onboard. The plane has just departed Hobby after
being told to expedite its takeoff in order to make room for an
incoming Southwest 737 that had declared a prior emergency, but was
then diverted to nearby airport instead.
"It hit and slid. There was a fire," said Houston Fire
Department District Chief Tommy Dowdy to the Associated Press.
"This thing tumbled around 300 feet. There was extensive damage. It
hit on one of the runways and slid across a grassy area to a
parallel runway."
After takeoff, the Citation's pilots told the tower they were
experiencing an unknown problem, and were cleared to make an
emergency landing.
The Citation (file photo of type, below) had been in position on
the runway when the pilots were told by the tower to takeoff
immediately to make room for the Southwest plane, which had
declared an emergency following a high oil temp readout. Flight
422, with 119 passengers onboard, later landed safely at Bush
Intercontinental, according to Southwest spokeswoman Ginger
Hardage.
It is not known if the Citation had indicated trouble prior to
being told to takeoff, and the identities of the Citation pilots
have not been released.
Aero-News will pass along more information as it becomes
available.
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