Southwest Airlines flight diverted to Milwaukee due to 'potential mechanical issue' amid cancellation chaos

A Southwest Airlines flight from Chicago to Phoenix was diverted to Milwaukee due to a "potential mechanical issue" on Wednesday afternoon, throwing a wrench in the beleaguered airline's efforts to get back on track following thousands of canceled flights in recent days.  

The issue on flight 1715 involved one of the aircraft's flaps, a Southwest spokesperson said. It took off from Midway International Airport at 12:45 p.m. and was taken out of service after landing safely in Milwaukee. 

"A different aircraft is being brought in to continue the flight to Phoenix," the spokesperson...