Smoke prompts airline evacuation after landing at Fresno-Yosemite International

FRESNO, Calif. -- Allegiant confirmed that they evacuated flight 514, "out of an abundance of caution," after smoke filled the cabin while taxiing to the gate.

"Everybody was coughing pretty bad," passenger Estevan Moreno told ABC News, adding that crewmembers advised passengers to cover their faces with their shirts.

Allegiant said the flight from Las Vegas to Fresno landed normally before there was a mechanical issue that caused a "visible haze" in the front of the aircraft. The plane stopped short of the gate and passengers were forced to exit on a staircase in the back of the plane.