Southwest Flight 321 returns to Midway after report of engine problems

CHICAGO -- A Southwest Airlines plane headed to New York from Chicago made an emergency landing shortly after taking off from Midway International Airport.

Southwest Flight 321 took off for New York's LaGuardia Airport at 1:20 p.m. The pilot reported engine problems shortly after and requested the Boeing 737 return to the airport, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation. The plane landed safely around 1:30 p.m., Chicago Department of Aviation officials said.

No one was injured, officials said. There were 118 passengers and five crew members on Flight 321. Southwest officials said the pilot reported an "air indicator light" went on in the cockpit during the climb.

Through Twitter, a passenger said there was an issue right away, and it sounded like the plane was "struggling." Someone on the ground reported seeing what appeared to be flames shooting out of the plane's engine.

"I heard, like, a boom, like an aftershock or something. And I looked up, that's when I see flames coming out of the murder," Jonathan said. "I hope everyone's going to be OK."

Chicago firefighters met the plane on the runway. The Boeing 737 was able to taxi to a gate on its own.

All the passengers were rebooked on other flights to New York, Southwest officials said.