Seven Texas Members Make an Emergency Landing
A Continental Airlines flight carrying seven Members of the Texas Congressional delegation made an emergency landing in New Orleans on Tuesday afternoon after the plane lost significant cabin pressure.
Continental Airlines spokeswoman Julie King said there were no injuries on Flight 458, which was headed from Houston to Washington, D.C.
A spokesman for Rep. Nick Lampson (D-Texas), who was a passenger on board the aircraft, said that all 118 passengers were instructed to put on oxygen masks during the emergency landing.
The other members of the Texas delegation on board were Reps. John Carter (R), Henry Cuellar (D), Solomon Ortiz (D), Ron Paul (R), Ted Poe (R) and Ciro Rodriguez (D).
The flight, which was scheduled to depart at 1:04 p.m., departed Houstons Bush International Airport at 1:49 p.m. and landed in New Orleans at 3:24 p.m.
As standard operating procedure in these instances, the captain does divert to the nearest airport, which in this case was New Orleans, King said.
She was not able to confirm reports that the Boeing 737 aircraft nose-dived after it lost cabin pressure.
King said the aircraft is undergoing an inspection by a Continental maintenance crew in New Orleans.
All seven Members on the flight boarded other planes for Washington by Tuesday evening.
