Disabled aircraft makes emergency landing

No serious injuries were reported tonight when an MD-80 airliner carrying 125 passengers was forced to make an emergency landing at Mid-Continent Airport.

Dispatchers said an airport emergency was declared at about 7:15 p.m. after the pilot of an Allegiant Air jet reported losing an engine shortly after taking off from the airport.

An Allegiant spokeswoman said the charter aircraft was traveling from Pittsburgh to Laughlin, Nev., when it landed in Wichita to refuel.

After refueling, the aircraft took off and reached an altitude of 15,000 feet before those on board reported hearing a loud bang and seeing flames coming from one of the engines, the spokeswoman said.

After landing the aircraft, the emergency slides were deployed, and 10 to 15 of the passengers used the slides to get off the plane. The remaining passengers left the aircraft after stairs were moved into place.

Two passengers apparently suffered minor injuries while using the slides to get off the aircraft, the spokeswoman said.