An American Airlines flight to the Bahamas turned back to Charlotte Douglas International Airport on Saturday due to mechanical issues.
Flight 859, en route to Nassau, declared an emergency mid-flight and signaled a 7700 squawk code before returning to Charlotte.
The aircraft, a 25-year-old Boeing 737-800, landed safely and taxied to the gate without incident. The airline removed the aircraft from service for inspection, though the exact cause of the mechanical issue remains unclear.
During its return flight, the aircraft went through several holding patterns before aligning for its final approach. After landing, passengers were transferred to another plane to continue their journey.
American Airlines currently has 303 Boeing 737-800s in its fleet, with 291 in active service.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident.
