OC-Bound Flight Makes Emergency Landing

SANTA ANA, CA — A Southwest Airlines flight was diverted to LAX after the plane began its initial approach into John Wayne Airport Monday afternoon.

Southwest flight 503 departed from San Jose Mineta International Airport at 11:10 a.m.

The crew "received a maintenance indication during the flight’s initial approach into John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana. The captain followed procedures and elected to divert to LAX, where the aircraft landed uneventfully," a Southwest spokesperson told Patch.

The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to LAX to meet the aircraft, which landed at 1 p.m., the LAFD's Jennifer Middleton told Patch.

The flight crew reported the diversion was due to a "flap issue" on the Boeing 737 aircraft, Middleton said.

The flaps, located on the aircraft's wings, control airspeed and are set to different positions to control drag and lift during takeoff and landing. During landing, the flaps are set based on the runway length, airport elevation and airplane weight, according to a past article published by ABC News.

"We removed the airplane from service for a maintenance evaluation and are working to get the passengers to Santa Ana. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees," the airline spokesperson said.

No injuries were reported.