Flight 5318 – An American Eagle regional jet with Congressman Tracey Mann on board declared an emergency moments before landing in Washington after smoke was reported in the cabin, prompting an evacuation of all 76 passengers onto the taxiway.
Smoke appeared in the cabin, and seconds later the pilot made the call: the plane would not land as planned.. American Eagle Flight 5318. with Congressman Tracey Mann onboard. touched down under emergency procedures and stopped on the tarmac after the crew reported an emergency just moments before arrival.
According to the FAA. the regional jet was flying to Kansas City from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport when smoke was reported in the cabin.. Air traffic control audio recordings captured the moment the situation changed course: “Bluestreak 5318, declaring an emergency.. We’re landing,” the PSA pilot said as the aircraft was two miles from touching down.
Other planes could be seen circling the airport as the CRJ-900 landed. All 76 passengers were evacuated onto the taxiway.
Mann, who represents much of western Kansas, shared photos and video of the evacuation.. In a video posted to Facebook, he described what passengers saw as they came out onto the aircraft’s wing.. “There was smoke on our aircraft and so we landed and are now sitting on the tarmac,” he said.. “Really appreciate our first responders, folks from fire.”
The FAA said it will investigate the incident. American Airlines also said safety remains its top priority, adding that it is sorry for the experience.
For the congressman and everyone onboard, the final minutes were about speed and clarity: a cabin report, an emergency landing, and a swift evacuation that brought passengers off the jet and onto the ground.
American Airlines American Eagle PSA Airlines Flight 5318 emergency landing cabin smoke Tracey Mann FAA investigation CRJ-900 evacuation