BURKE (WBAP/KLIF) – Incoming Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan had a frightening encounter aboard a plane this week.
Officials said no one was seriously injured when the plane skidded off a runway while trying to land during a rainstorm Wednesday, according to the Associated Press.
It happened at the Angelina County Airport about 110 miles northeast of Houston.
Phelan told KFDM-TV he’s thankful everyone made it out of the terrifying encounter safely.
“We all walked away. It was an unfortunate accident. The plane was in bad shape,” he said.
The Beaumont Republican will replace Speaker Dennis Bonnen who opted not to run for re-election following the release of a controversial recorded phone call.
He has the support of Governor Gregg Abbott who issued a statement that said in part:
“Congratulations to my friend, Dade Phelan, fore securing the votes-including over 95% of the Republican caucus-to become the next Speaker of the Texas House.”
Copyright 2020. WBAP/KLIF News. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.