CNN

Midway jet evacuated at Reagan National Airport after smoke alarm

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- A Midway regional jet was evacuated Thursday at Reagan National Airport after a warning light indicated possible smoke in a cargo bay, but it proved to be a false alarm, authorities said.

As a precaution, the pilot requested the immediate evacuation of the 50 passengers shortly the plane arrived from Raleigh Durham airport, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said.

Firemen inspected the craft and found no problem, said Jonathan Gaffney, an airports authority spokesman.

"People just walked off the plane onto a bus. Everybody's fine," he said.

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), November 10, 2000