Watch CBS News

Plane makes emergency landing after pilot locked out of cockpit

LAS VEGAS - Officials say a Delta Air Lines flight from Minneapolis made an emergency landing in Las Vegas on Thursday with the co-pilot at the controls after the pilot was locked out of the cockpit.

McCarran International Airport spokeswoman Christine Crews says none of the 168 people aboard Delta flight 1651 was injured, and the MD-90 aircraft wasn't damaged.

The plane had been headed for Las Vegas, and it pulled into its regular gate at McCarran on time about 12:30 p.m.

Delta issued a statement saying the situation was not beyond the capabilities of the plane's crew.

"A commercial aircraft can be landed with one pilot at the control and Delta pilots are fully trained to do so if the situation were to occur," the statement said. "The First Officer took control and landed the aircraft safely without incident. The door will be evaluated by Delta maintenance technicians."

Crews says the door malfunctioned, and McDuff says it'll be evaluated by maintenance technicians.

Crews says the emergency was declared 13 minutes before the plane touched down at 12:23 p.m.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.