Flight Attendant Intentionally Deploys Emergency Slide at Gate in Houston, Airline Says

— -- A United Airlines flight attendant intentionally deployed an emergency slide after the aircraft arrived at its gate in Houston, the airline says.

Flight 1246 -- carrying 159 passengers and six crew -- had just taxied to its gate at Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport when the flight attendant deployed the chute.

The plane was taken out of service, inspected, and returned to service, while the attendant was removed from flying duty, according to United.

"We hold all of our employees to the highest standard. The unsafe behavior is unacceptable and does not represent the more than 20,000 flight attendants who ensure the safety of our customers," the airline said in a statement. "United is reviewing the matter and they have removed the employee from her flying duties."

ABC News' Gina Sunseri and Erin Dooley contributed to this report.