Eugene Airport concourse evacuated after technicians smelled smoke on plane

EUGENE, Ore. - The Eugene Airport evacuated a concourse and pushed a plane away from the building after air traffic controllers announced an emergency on board the plane Thursday, Eugene Airport officials said.

Delta Flight 5805 was scheduled to depart for Seattle. The evacuation happened after a report of a fire in the back of the plane.

"There's wasn't any live fire, just smoke," Casey Boatman with the Eugene Airport said.

Compass Airlines operates the plane, providing regional service for Delta.

"Aircraft technicians encountered a smoky odor while performing maintenance work on a Compass Airlines aircraft parked at a gate at the Eugene, Oregon airport," Compass said in a statement. "Out of an abundance of caution, local authorities were called to the aircraft. There were no customers on board the aircraft at the time. Those customers scheduled to fly on Delta Connection flight 5805 have been reaccommodated on an alternate flight."

The evacuation order has since been lifted. The airport is returning to normal activity.

The airport suggested travelers check with their airlines for current flight information.

No passengers were on board at the time of the emergency.

The aircraft was parked at Gate A2 at the time.

Firefighters and law enforcement were called to the airport at 1:10 p.m., according to dispatch logs.

"Out of an abundance of caution, the A Concourse was evacuated and the aircraft was pushed away from the building," the Eugene Airport said in a statement.