A United Express flight from Lubbock to Houston was diverted to San Antonio after a passenger's electronic device battery began smoking, prompting the pilots to declare an emergency. The plane landed safely without incident, and Mesa Airlines is assisting passengers to reach their final destinations. Lithium-ion battery failures, which can be triggered by defects, damage, or charging issues, pose safety risks on flights due to the potential for thermal runaway. The incident highlights dangers associated with portable electronic devices on airplanes.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a near collision involving two departing flights at Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport earlier this month.

While the company has not disclosed what exactly the issue was, they said the flight landed safely back at the airport and passengers have deplaned at the gate.

A United Express flight diverted to Austin after hitting “severe turbulence” and encountering pressurization issues.

A plane reportedly skidded off the runway at George Bush Intercontinental Airport due to technical issues on Wednesday afternoon, according to officials.

Wintry weather combined with the pandemic to frustrate air travelers whose return flights home from the holidays were canceled or delayed in the first days of the new year.