Southwest Airlines Flight 3396, a scheduled service from John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana to San José Mineta International Airport, declared a general emergency shortly after takeoff on Friday, November 6, according to FlightAware air traffic data reported by the Los Angeles Times.

The Los Angeles Times reports the flight stopped its climb around 20,000 feet and began squawking 7700, the standard broadcast code for a general emergency, before diverting to Los Angeles International Airport. It took off around 11:30 a.m. and landed just under an hour later.

Simple Flying reports that the crew confirmed to air traffic control there were 97 souls onboard, and that shortly after departure the jet lost power to its #2 engine.

The aircraft involved, registration N281WN, is a 19-year-old Boeing 737-700 that was delivered to Southwest in June 2007 and carries a sticker marking it as the airline's 500th 737. Simple Flying adds the plane is configured with 143 all-economy seats and is powered by two CFMI CFM56-7B24 engines.

The FAA said in a statement that Flight 3396 landed safely at Los Angeles International Airport around 12:25 p.m. local time after the crew reported an engine issue, and the Los Angeles Times and Yahoo both quote that statement.

LAX said in its own statement that WN3396 landed without incident on Runway 25L. NBC Los Angeles reports the crew followed established procedures and landed the aircraft uneventfully, and that Southwest praised the professionalism of its pilots and flight crew.

Simple Flying's flight-tracker review offers a striking picture of the diversion: the plane pushed back at 11:49, 14 minutes behind schedule, took off north-easterly, then quickly turned southwest toward Los Angeles South Bay after the engine issue.

Simple Flying reports the aircraft never flew higher than 5,000 feet and spent 18 minutes over the Pacific Ocean before touching down at 12:28 after a 38-minute flight.

Emergency services met the plane, passengers disembarked with no reports of injury, and travelers were rebooked on a replacement flight set to depart at 1:13 p.m.

Nothing about the diversion went worse than it could have: no injuries are reported, and both the FAA and Southwest describe a safe, uneventful landing.

Southwest said it would accommodate affected customers on another aircraft to San Jose, adding that nothing is more important than the safety of its customers and employees.

The Los Angeles Times notes this is a developing story that will be updated, and details about the engine maintenance notification were not immediately available, according to NBC Los Angeles. The FAA has said it will investigate.

Simple Flying explains what such an event involves for crews: if an engine fails on takeoff, pilots use asymmetric thrust control with opposite rudder and aileron to keep the plane level, run emergency checklists, and may divert for a safe single-engine landing.

Travelers on the route can expect the affected jet out of service while the cause is examined.