By Rudolph Bush Express-News Staff Writer

An American Airlines jet bound for Mexico City made an emergency landing in San Antonio late Saturday night after a warning light malfunctioned in the cockpit, indicating to the crew the aircraft was overheating.

With 132 passengers on board, American Airlines Flight 403 landed with no difficulties around 9 p.m. at the San Antonio International Airport.

An airport spokeswoman said the passengers got off the plane about 10:30 p.m., while a part to fix the warning light was flown to San Antonio. The part was expected to arrive late Saturday night and the passengers were expected to reboard and be on their way to Mexico City by 1 a.m.

The problem arose after the plane took off from Dallas, when the warning light went red telling the crew the lower body of the plane was overheating. That apparently caused the crew to suspect a air pressure problem somewhere in the belly of the plane, beneath the passenger cabin.

There also were brief reports of smoke in the cockpit and in the belly of the plane, but as it turned out there was no evidence of any smoke in either place.

http://www.hearstnp.com/san_antonio/bea/news/stories/san/storypage.cfm?xla=saen&xlb=180&xlc=151074&xld=180

-- Doris (nocents@bellsouth.net), December 24, 2000