Crash kills 2; plane is told to quickly take off

HOUSTON (AP) -- A small jet crashed Saturday at one of the city's airports after being instructed to take off quickly because of an incoming airliner. Both people on the jet were killed. The Cessna Citation 500 was preparing to leave Hobby Airport when controllers told its pilot to take off quickly because a Southwest Airlines 737 with some problem was approaching, said Tommy Dowdy, district chief for the Houston Fire Department.
The Southwest plane, with 119 passengers, was diverted to the city's other major airport, Bush Intercontinental, where it landed safely. Southwest spokeswoman Ginger Hardage said Flight 422 had departed Hobby for Las Vegas but was forced to return to Houston after a cockpit gauge reported a high oil temperature.