A National Guard helicopter made an emergency landing Wednesday at Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
The WRAL Breaking News Tracker captured a group of first responders around a National Guard helicopter at the airport. According to the airport, smoke was reported inside the helicopter and it safely landed at the airport.
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The runways were temporarily closed to arrivals and departures. Peresa Hall, whose flight from Nashville had to circle the airport because of the incident.
"He might've used the word emergency with a helicopter or [a] problem with a helicopter, and that planes were being diverted to other airports," Hall said. "I remember a groan went out in the plane."
Airport authorities determined there was no fire inside the cockpit of the helicopter. The helicopter was in the grass at the airport, but crews pulled it out.
Another passenger who spoke with WRAL News said her flight was forced to land in Greensboro, causing her to miss a doctor's appointment and forcing several passengers to miss their connecting flights.
However, both women agreed the flight crews did a great job keeping everyone calm while they found out what was happening on the ground.
"It's scary for a minute," Hall said. "You're on a plane, you know? You have a lot of things that are out of control. But having good staff around you, [and] professional people knowing what they're doing ... You kind of have to place yourself in their hands and trust they will do the best for you."
The cause of the smoke in the helicopter remains unclear. WRAL News has reached out to the National Guard regarding the emergency landing and is waiting to hear back.