NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – A United Airlines flight headed to Las Vegas was forced to return to Newark Airport on Tuesday morning because of an “equipment problem,” officials said.
United Flight 1544 turned around about an hour into the trip, landing safely back at Newark at 6:39 a.m., according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Port Authority described the issue as an “equipment problem,” while United Airlines referred to it as a “possible mechanical issue.”
“The flight landed safely, and all passengers deplaned normally at the gate,” the airline said in a statement. “We have arranged for a different aircraft to take our customers to Las Vegas this morning.”
There were 176 passengers and six crew members aboard the plane, a Boeing 757.