United Investigating Cause of Plane's Emergency Landing at Dover Air Force Base

...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM EDT SUNDAY... * WHAT...One to locally two feet of inundation above ground level expected in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways. * WHERE...Dorchester, Wicomico, Somerset and Inland Worcester Counties. * WHEN...Until 11 AM EDT Sunday. * IMPACTS...Shallow flooding is expected in the most vulnerable locations near the waterfront and shoreline resulting in a low threat of property damage. Expect up to one to locally two feet of water above ground level in low lying, vulnerable areas. Some roads and low lying property including parking lots, parks and lawns near the waterfront will experience shallow flooding. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If travel is required, allow extra time as some roads may be closed. Do not drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth. Take the necessary actions to protect flood-prone property. && Time of high total tides are approximate to the nearest hour. CAMBRIDGE MD MLLW CATEGORIES - MINOR 3.5 FT, MODERATE 4.0 FT, MAJOR 4.5 FT MHHW CATEGORIES - MINOR 1.5 FT, MODERATE 2.0 FT, MAJOR 2.5 FT TOTAL TOTAL DEPARTURE DAY/TIME TIDE TIDE FROM NORM WAVES FLOOD FT MLLW FT MHHW FT FT IMPACT -------- --------- --------- --------- ------- -------- 11/08 PM 3.1 1.1 1.5 1 NONE 12/08 AM 3.8 1.8 1.7 1 MINOR 12/08 PM 2.7 0.7 1.2 1 NONE 13/09 AM 3.1 1.1 1.1 1 NONE 13/10 PM 2.8 0.8 1.2 1 NONE 14/09 AM 3.1 1.1 1.3 1-2 NONE BISHOPS HEAD MD MLLW CATEGORIES - MINOR 3.2 FT, MODERATE 3.7 FT, MAJOR 4.2 FT MHHW CATEGORIES - MINOR 1.1 FT, MODERATE 1.6 FT, MAJOR 2.1 FT TOTAL TOTAL DEPARTURE DAY/TIME TIDE TIDE FROM NORM WAVES FLOOD FT MLLW FT MHHW FT FT IMPACT -------- --------- --------- --------- ------- -------- 11/05 PM 3.4 1.3 1.5 1-2 MINOR 12/05 AM 3.8 1.7 1.6 1-2 MODERATE 12/05 PM 3.0 0.9 1.3 1-2 NONE 13/06 AM 3.1 1.0 1.0 1 NONE 13/07 PM 2.9 0.8 1.1 1-2 NONE 14/07 AM 3.2 1.1 1.2 2 NONE CRISFIELD MD MLLW CATEGORIES - MINOR 3.5 FT, MODERATE 4.0 FT, MAJOR 5.0 FT MHHW CATEGORIES - MINOR 1.3 FT, MODERATE 1.8 FT, MAJOR 2.8 FT TOTAL TOTAL DEPARTURE DAY/TIME TIDE TIDE FROM NORM WAVES FLOOD FT MLLW FT MHHW FT FT IMPACT -------- --------- --------- --------- ------- -------- 11/03 PM 3.1 0.9 1.6 1 NONE 12/04 AM 3.9 1.7 1.7 1 MINOR 12/05 PM 3.1 0.9 1.6 1 NONE 13/05 AM 3.4 1.2 1.3 1 NONE 13/05 PM 2.7 0.5 1.3 1 NONE 14/06 AM 3.4 1.2 1.4 1 NONE OCEAN CITY INLET MD MLLW CATEGORIES - MINOR 4.0 FT, MODERATE 5.0 FT, MAJOR 6.0 FT MHHW CATEGORIES - MINOR 1.5 FT, MODERATE 2.5 FT, MAJOR 3.5 FT TOTAL TOTAL DEPARTURE DAY/TIME TIDE TIDE FROM NORM WAVES FLOOD FT MLLW FT MHHW FT FT IMPACT -------- --------- --------- --------- ------- -------- 11/11 PM 3.8 1.3 1.1 1 NONE 12/12 PM 3.0 0.5 1.0 1 NONE 13/01 AM 3.4 0.9 0.8 1 NONE 13/12 PM 2.5 0.0 0.6 1 NONE 14/01 AM 2.7 0.2 0.3 1 NONE &&

DOVER, Del.- United Airlines on Tuesday said it was investigating what caused a commercial flight to conduct an emergency landing at Dover Air Force Base the evening prior.

The plane landed in Dover before 7:30 p.m. Monday, more than an hour after it took off from Newark en route to Palm Beach. More than 80 passengers remained at the air base for roughly five hours while United sent a replacement flight to pick up the passengers.

In a statement, United did not identify a cause for the mechanical problem that prompted the pilot to call for a flight emergency.

"Our customers later departed on a different aircraft, arriving in Palm Beach early this morning. We apologize to our customers and have provided a goodwill gesture," the statement read.

Col. Corey Simmons, the vice commander of the 436th Airlift Wing, was on duty when the United plane landed at the airbase. He said the situation was serious and unusual but also provided an opportunity for airmen to serve and comfort passengers who had just been on a flight forced to land because of an emergency.

"The abnormal part is that it's a civilian airliner," he said. "When you hear that over the phone for the first time, it's like 'OK, we haven't had that happen in a long time. Let's go to work.'"