The Latest: Southwest plane to St. Louis returns to Vegas

LAS VEGAS – The Latest on the return of a St. Louis-bound Southwest Airlines flight to McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas (all times local):

3:55 p.m.

A Southwest Airlines official says no emergency was declared before a St. Louis-bound commercial flight returned to Las Vegas to check whether the aircraft had a blown tire and tail damage.

McCarran International Airport spokeswoman Christine Crews said Flight 511 took off from Vegas about 12:50 p.m. Wednesday and the pilot reported about 1:45 p.m. that the aircraft was returning.

Officials said the Boeing 737 landed safely a little after 2:10 p.m.

Airline spokesman Dan Landson called the landing uneventful. He says the aircraft taxied to the terminal, where it was checked by maintenance workers and cleared to return to service.

Landson said there were 174 passengers and six crew members aboard. That was one fewer than the airport reported.

A Federal Aviation Administration spokesman says the agency will investigate.

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2:55 p.m.

Officials say a Southwest Airlines flight was already in the air for nearly an hour before calling in an emergency to return to the Las Vegas airport.

McCarran International Airport spokeswoman Christine Crews said the St. Louis-bound Boeing 737 aircraft called about 1:45 p.m. Wednesday to report that its tail may have hit something or there was a possible blown tire.

The flight took off from Vegas about 12:50 p.m., and it landed safely and normally back there at 2:13 p.m.

None of the 181 people aboard Southwest Airlines flight 511 were injured, and there were no obvious signs of property damage.

The Clark County Fire Department responded per protocol, clearing the scene at 2:19 p.m.

The airline, which will inspect the plane for damage, couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.