Two planes make emergency landings at Yeager Airport Friday night

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Yeager Airport became the destination for a pair of distressed aircraft on Friday evening.

Airport officials say Southwest Airlines Flight 5811 diverted to Charleston while travelling from Pittsburgh to Atlanta. The plane experienced unknown mechanical problems. The 127 passengers and five crew waited at the Charleston terminal as the company sent a back up plane from Baltimore.

While those folks were waiting, a flight bound from St. Louis to Dulles Airport in Washington D.C. experienced an in-flight medical emergency and also had to land at Yeager. A passenger on board was suffering an apparent heart attack.

Charleston firefighters responded and determined the passenger was exhibiting symptoms not of a heart attack, but an overdose and administered Naloxone and saved his life.

“We know an unexpected stop during any journey can be stressful, but the staff at Yeager does everything in their power to ensure the comfort of all passengers and crew,” said Yeager Airport Director Terry Sayre. “Due to Yeager Airport’s excellent Operations Department and the readiness of the West Virginia Air National Guard’s fire response team as well as Charleston fire and medical services, we are an obvious choice for any airline in need of a safe haven.”

The airport provided free pizza to the passengers and crew of both airplanes while they waited in Charleston.

 





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