There were terrifying moments for passengers of a plane making an emergency landing in the Tri-Cities Wednesday. That plane was flying from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Lexington, Kentucky, when smoke filled the cockpit.
“We were told to buckle up our seat belts really tight and stay awake and not panic,” Donna Carter said.
She was one of the passengers on American Airlines flight 4890 when it made the emergency landing.
“It was probably about 30 minutes into the flight and we heard a big bang, and at that point there was a haze,” she said.
Some passengers woke up as the plane landed. Yuan Ehe was confused she wasn’t in Lexington.
“I looked out the window and I saw fire rescue people coming toward us,” Ehe said.
It was less than an hour into the flight.
“It was taken over to Tri-Cities Aviation to inspect further and for maintenance,” Kristi Haulsee with Tri-Cities Airport said.
Some passengers flew back to Charlotte. Carter and her family from Barbados were anxious to see the Ark Encounter attraction. They decided to find their way in a rental car.
“I’m not sure what it’s going to be like,” Carter said. “The lady said it’s quite mountainous here, so I don’t know. Wish us luck.”
Ehe is from Michigan. She also hoped to drive.