Southwest flight forced to evacuate due to smoke in the aircraft

SANTA ANA, CA (FOX 11/CNS) - A Southwest Airlines flight was evacuated on Monday evening soon after pushing back from a gate at John Wayne Airport because of smoke in the aircraft, believed to have come from an auxiliary power unit, officials said.

Flight 2123 to San Jose had just pushed back about 7:30 p.m. when smoke was detected in the cabin of the Boeing 737, according to airport spokeswoman Deanne Thompson.

Passengers were evacuated from the plane using emergency slides, she said.

Some people sustained minor injuries but no one needed to be taken to a hospital, Thompson said.

The plane had 139 passengers and five crew aboard.

Southwest Airlines was working to put passengers on another flight to San Jose.