Delta plane makes emergency landing in Maryland

LINTHICUM, Md. (AP) - A Delta Air Lines flight made an emergency landing Wednesday in Maryland because of an engine problem, officials said.

The MD-90, which was traveling from Atlanta to New York, landed safely at 10:30 a.m. at Thurgood Marshall Baltimore-Washington International Airport, said Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen. She referred further questions about the nature of the engine problem to Delta.

Delta said in a statement that the plane was diverted after "an observed issue with one of the aircraft's engines." It did not provide other details but said other travel arrangements were being made for the 109 passengers on board.

There are more than 27,000 flights a day in the U.S., and engine failures resulting in emergency landings are not uncommon. Airliners are designed so that they can be flown with one operational engine, and pilots are trained on how to fly with only one engine.

The aircraft landed without incident and taxied to a gate, said airport spokesman Jonathan Dean. He did not have further details.

An Associated Press reporter on board the flight Wednesday, Brad Brooks, said the pilot provided few details on board other than saying there was an emergency.

Chiquita Banks of Atlanta said she was asleep and was awakened by the noise - which sounded like a tire popping followed by a "woosh."

"That's not something you like to hear on a flight," she said.

Stephen Williams, 36, was traveling to New York for a family vacation. He said he heard a "massive boom," and then the plane stalled and shuddered.

"It was really scary, you heard that loud pop," he said.

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Associated Press writers Joan Lowy in Washington and Jeff Martin in Atlanta contributed to this report.