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Heat forces Phoenix-bound flight to go back to Houston

Posted at 9:21 AM, Jun 20, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-20 23:58:54-04

Extreme heat forced a Phoenix-bound flight to return to Houston.

United Airlines says the hot weather led the plane to return to Texas on Sunday evening and that passengers will be accommodated with an added flight Monday morning.

Passengers told a TV station in Houston that the crew said the high temperatures could cause the airplane's wheels to burst upon landing.

The National Weather Service says the mercury hit 118 on Sunday, breaking a record of 115 set nearly 50 years ago.

Passenger Gary Cassman told the station it seemed off because the temperatures had been forecasted previously. "So it seems like they should have known that before they let the bird in the air," he said.

Officials with Phoenix Sky Harbor said no other flights were rerouted due to heat. The spokesperson said each airline determines when it is took hot for a plane to land or take-off.

On Monday, Sky Harbor reached 116 degrees, breaking the previous record for June 20 of 115.

RELATED: The day it was too hot to fly out of Sky Harbor International Airport