Cracked Window Forces Continental Jet To Land At JIA

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A Continental Airlines 737 headed from Newark, N.J., to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport made an emergency landing Monday afternoon at Jacksonville International Airport.

A Jacksonville Fire-Rescue Department spokesman said there was a cracked window and some cabin pressurization problems on the plane, which landed safely. Airport officials said the flight had 146 passengers and a crew of six.

Continental Airlines confirmed there was a cracked side window in the cockpit, but could not confirm that it caused any loss of cabin pressure.




Flight 701 left Newark at 11:37 a.m. and was diverted to JIA, landing at 1:58 p.m. It was scheduled to take off again at 2:20 p.m., but was still on the ground in Jacksonville at 4:30 p.m.

The passengers got off the flight and were held at the gate while the plane was towed to a different part of the airport. A Continental spokesman said that mechanics were waiting on a part to arrive from Orlando and the flight would be delayed at least two hours.

Channel 4's Jennifer Bauer is at the airport learning more about the flight and the passengers. This story will be updated as more information becomes available, with live updates on the local station beginning at 5 p.m.

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