No injuries were reported when a small plane made an emergency landing shortly after takeoff Monday morning at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport.

The chartered plane carrying nine passengers and three crew members experienced smoke in the cockpit about 20 miles into its flight, according to Gabe Monzo, executive director of the Westmoreland County Airport Authority.

Firefighters responded as the plane, which was bound for Shreveport, La., returned and landed without incident at the Unity airport, he said.

There was no substantial damage to the plane, operated by Freight Runners Express, Monzo said. It’s believed a malfunction in the heating system caused the problem, he said.

“Mechanics are checking out the aircraft, and they’re bringing another aircraft in to get the people to their destination,” he said.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)