Flights delayed at Columbia Regional Airport because of smoke smell, conditions

CORRECTION: The American flight was delayed by conditions in Dallas.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two United flights and an American flight out of Columbia Regional Airport were delayed Monday.

Low visibility at the Dallas-Ft. Worth airport caused airport authorities to delay the outbound American plane, an airline spokesperson said in an email. The two United flights were delayed because of smoke odors in the cabins, according to a post on the Columbia Regional Airport Facebook page.

United Flight 4642 to Denver reported a smoke odor and United Flight 4601, which was bound for Chicago, was also delayed because the crew reported a smoke odor.

United 4642, operated by Trans State Airlines under the United Express banner, had a "possible mechanical issue," a Trans State spokesperson said. Passengers were taken off the plane and mechanics were looking at the aircraft, the spokesperson said. The flight had 35 passengers and three crew members on board.

Central Missouri remained under a dense fog advisory until noon Monday, with visibility at a quarter-mile or less, according to the National Weather Service in St. Louis. The airport's post said the American flight was stopped from taking off because of local fog. However, the airline says low visibility in Dallas led to the delay.

City of Columbia spokesman Steve Sapp said an auxiliary power unit in the tail section of one United flight generated the smoke odor. The crew on the other United flight smelled smoke because smoke from the first flight got into its air intake system, he said.

The tower stopped flights from taking off at about 8:15 a.m. As of mid-morning, it was not clear when flights would be able to take off.

Look for more on this developing story.