Passenger plane reports smoke at US airport; no casualties reported

A small passenger plane landed safely after taking off from Newark International Airport in New Jersey after reporting smoke in the cockpit.

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey spokesman Steve Coleman says United Express Flight 4890 was headed for Pittsburgh. The plane returned, stopped on the runway and 27 passengers were evacuated safely as a precaution around 11:15 am on Thursday.

Coleman says no one was injured. Coleman says no smoke was visible and the plane was towed to the gate.

It's not known if there was a mechanical problem. The Federal Aviation Administration identified the aircraft as a DeHavilland DH-8, which is a turboprop plane.