ORLANDO, Fla. — A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane made an emergency landing not long after takeoff from Orlando International Airport, the company confirms.
One of the plane's engines experienced a performance issue.
"The crew followed protocol and safely landed back at the airport," Southwest Airlines spokesman Chris Mainz said in an emailed statement. No passengers were onboard.
Two pilots were operating the plane, which was being relocated to Victorville, California, for short-term storage, Mainz said. In the meantime, the plane will be moved to Southwest's maintenance facility for review.
FlightAware reports the plane took off at 2:47 p.m. Tuesday from Orlando and landed 11 minutes later.
President Donald Trump ordered all Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 9 planes grounded earlier this month following the crash of an Ethiopian airliner that killed 157 people.
Airlines are allowed to move planes but not carry passengers.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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