Plane Was Being Moved To A Maintenance Hangar, No Passengers On Board

A Southwest Airlines 737 being moved from a passenger gate to a hangar for maintenance went off a taxiway at Orlando International Airport Tuesday night, and caused one runway at the airport to be closed for a portion of the day Wednesday.

The Associated Press reports that there were two mechanics on board the airplane when the incident occurred, but no passengers. The FAA said that the nose gear of the airplane went into a grassy area and collapsed, making it impossible for the airplane to move.

The airport's other three runways remained open and airport operations were not affected, according to airport officials.

The Orlando Sentinel reports that a crane was brought in Wednesday and the plane was lifted off the grass in what was described as a "delicate and slow operation" by Orlando International Airport spokeswoman Carolyn Fennell.

The airplane was moved into a maintenance hangar by about 2 p.m. EDT Wednesday, and then Runway 18R was swept and re-opened.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.ntsb.gov