Flight 1837 was on its way from Fresno to Dallas when it started having issues.
The FAA says the pilot declared an emergency and headed back to Fresno when a heat indicator light came on in the tail section of the MD82 aircraft.
Firefighters were ready on the tarmac in case of any problems, but the plane was able to land safely just after 4 p.m.
The passengers have been re-booked on flights that leave Fresno for Dallas Sunday.
