By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post
Passengers on a local business charter plane traveling out of Hays experienced a few tense moments as the plane was forced to make a precautionary landing just after 8 a.m. Tuesday morning at Hays Regional Airport.
According to airport manager Robert Johnson, the twin-engine Cessna experienced a mechanical problem shortly after takeoff.
Another pilot already in the air noticed smoke coming from the right engine, which led to the precautionary landing.
The pilot and his passengers returned to the Hays airport and landed safely.
The Hays Fire Department was called to the scene “just in case there was a a fire,” said Johnson. “There was not.”
The plane landed safely and was towed to a hangar for maintenance, Johnson said.