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 told Fox News Digital. "We appreciate our Customers’ patience as we work to get them to their destinations as quickly as possible."