Reagan Airport Plane Evacuates Passengers Down Slide Due To Smoke

ARLINGTON, VA — Airplane passengers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport slid down an emergency slide to evacuate the plane when smoke was reported in the cabin. A spokeswoman for United Airlines told Patch in a statement the plane was a Mesa Airlines flight operating under United Express. She confirmed it was evacuated safely after smoke was detected in the cabin.

United flight 6122 (ERJ-170) was taxing for departure to Houston around 1 p.m. Sunday when smoke was reported, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority told Patch in an emailed statement. Emergency workers were sent to the plane and all passengers and crew had to evacuate using slides.

No one was hurt and all returned to the United gate, the agency said.

"Normal airport operations have resumed, and the aircraft is being checked by airline personnel," a spokeswoman for the agency said.

Video posted on social media showed passenger zipping down the emergency slide and walking to gate 12.

CBS News reported there were no signs of smoke found in a subsequent investigation.

"We are currently investigating the cause and are working with our team to secure alternate flights for customers onboard," the United spokeswoman said a statement.

A @united flight just landed at @Reagan_Airport DCA and passengers are deplaning via emergency slide onto the tarmac. Unclear what happened to the aircraft. Video here: pic.twitter.com/KGn6tfNjHp
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) July 1, 2018

Smoke on a United flight at National gives passengers a chance to try out the cool slide. pic.twitter.com/LdpzeWylA7
— Jon Bender (@oblivious_dude) July 1, 2018

United plane having some issues at DCA pic.twitter.com/a1U69tHOuS
— Ben (@Scubavagabond) July 1, 2018

Photo credit: Maria Cormack-Pitts/Patch