United Airlines made an emergency landing in Houston

HOUSTON (AP) – A United Airlines flight from Houston to Rio de Janeiro turned back to Bush Intercontinental Airport shortly after takeoff for an emergency landing, the airline said.

Flight 129 returned to the airport Tuesday night due to a “mechanical problem,” United Airlines said in a statement.

The airline did not describe the nature of the problem, and an airport spokeswoman did not immediately return messages for comment Wednesday morning.

The plane landed safely, the passengers disembarked and United Airlines made arrangements to get them to their destination, the airline said.

Flight tracking website FlightAware reported that the plane was a Boeing 767 bound for Rio de Janeiro that departed Houston at 8:52 p.m. and returned to the airport, landing at 10:50 p.m.

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