Delta Jet Makes Emergency Landing at Seymour-Johnson

A Delta Airlines MD-88 commuter plane, flight 1105, was forced to make an emergency landing at 4:11 p.m. Friday at Seymour-Johnson Air Force Base after a fire broke out on board.

Seymour-Johnson spokeswoman Lt. Gail Schwartz said there were 140 people on board the plane which was traveling from Washington, D.C. to Orlando, Fla. Schwartz said the base emergency response team had evacuated everyone from the plane in a safe and orderly fashion.

Passengers are being housed at the base theater. Delta planned to send another plane to carry the passengers on to their destination Friday night.

Schwartz said the Delta pilot smelled smoke just before a crew member discovered an electrical fire. The pilot immediately radioed for permission to land. He landed the plane on the runway where U.S. Air Force F-15 Strike Eagles usually take off and land.