Paul Ryan campaign flight temporarily stuck Wednesday morning at Hobby Airport

Paul Ryan's campaign flight was temporarily stuck Wednesday morning at Houston's Hobby Airport due to a minor mechanical issue. (CNN)

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A mechanical issue Wednesday morning temporarily stranded Paul Ryan's campaign flight at Houston's Hobby Airport.

The DC-9 Romney-Ryan campaign plane had an "minor mechanical issue" according to Ryan spokesperson Michael Steel. They held the place at Hobby Airport, putting them more than 85 minutes behind schedule.

It's believed that a leak in one of the lavatories in the back of the plane is the cause of the delay, but Steel would not confirm this.

The press corp's luggage was taken off the plane and put on the tarmac while technicians attempted to resolve the issue.

Ryan did eventually make it out of Houston in time for a scheduled appearance in Ft. Collins, Colorado on Wednesday afternoon.

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Houston-bound flight makes emergency landing in Amarillo

  AMARILLO, TX -- A United Express flight with 45 people aboard made an unscheduled landing in Amarillo after the captain reported pressurization issues.

Steven Picou is deputy director of aviation at Amarillo Rick Husband International Airport. He says the Embraer EMB-145XR jet was en route from Grand Junction, Colo., to Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston when the cockpit crew declared an emergency at 1:23 p.m. Wednesday.

The plane was operated by Atlanta-based ExpressJet Airlines for Chicago-based United. Picou says it made a safe, uneventful landing at 1:30 p.m., the passengers deplaned routinely and were booked on the next flight to Houston.

It was unclear if cabin depressurization actually had occurred.

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Flight returns to Bush after bird strike

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A flight from Houston headed to Las Vegas had to make an unexpected landing at Bush Intercontinental Airport after a bird strike.

A spokesperson for Continental says flight #697 from Houston to Las Vegas hit a bird shortly after takeoff. The plane turned around and returned to the airport. There were no problems upon landing.

The bird reportedly hit the nose of the plane where the radar is located.

There were 158 passengers on board the 737-800. The plane is being checked over.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

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Mission Control named for 1st NASA flight director

  HOUSTON -- NASA has honored its first flight director by naming Mission Control at the Johnson Space Center in Houston after him.

Space program officials spoke Thursday at a ceremony at the newly-named Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center.

The 87-year-old Kraft attended the event. He was NASA's first director for human spaceflight and helped create Mission Control.

He also directed the Mercury and Gemini flights and helped put men on the moon during the Apollo program. He went on to serve as director of Johnson Space Center from 1972 to 1982.

"How can anybody not like a day like today when they named a mission control center after you," said Dr. Kraft. "It's a great building, full of great people and symbolic of a great organization here at the Johnson Space Center."

Dr. Kraft called the decision not to bring a retired space shuttle to the area as 'insignificant.' Although, he did say it seems to be in his opinion, a slap in the face. He says we need to look forward to what we can continue to do -- NASA's continued exploration of space.

It's a sentiment also echoed here today by legendary director Gene Kranz who said, 'We need to find the courage to continue the work that Dr. Kraft and so many began here at mission control over 50 years ago.'

Kraft detailed his time at NASA in his 2001 book, "Flight: My Life in Mission Control."

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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