LOS ALAMOS, N.M. (KRQE) - The violent storm that blew through central New Mexico Tuesday afternoon sent three incoming Albuquerque flights to other airports and forced the brief evacuation of the Santa Fe Airport control tower.
Continental Express Flight 2025 bound for Albuquerque from Houston was diverted to first to Santa Fe, but bad weather there sent the 50-seat regional jet to Los Alamos instead. The Santa Fe control tower was evacuated when winds reached 70 mph.
The plane landed without incident although the Los Alamos Fire Department was on hand and helped passengers exit the aircraft. At about 6:20 p.m. the passengers were boarding a bus for Santa Fe and Albuquerque.
A Southwest flight from San Diego to Albuquerque landed instead in El Paso, Albuquerque Sunport spokesman Dan Jirón told KRQE News 13. A Delta Skywest flight from Salt Lake City also was diverted, but Jirón said he didn't know where it landed.