Frontier Airlines Flight Experiences Fiery Landing in Las Vegas
A Frontier Airlines flight from San Diego to Las Vegas experienced a fiery landing at Harry Reid International Airport, capturing the attention of onlookers as flames and smoke emerged from the plane’s undercarriage.
Video footage of the incident, which occurred on Saturday, shows the aircraft landing while fire and smoke were visible beneath it.
Flight 1326, which took off from San Diego International Airport at 1:51 p.m., was slightly delayed, landing in Las Vegas at 3:37 p.m., 37 minutes behind schedule. As the Airbus A321neo was touching down, the pilots detected smoke in the cockpit and declared an emergency. Firefighters quickly responded, spraying the aircraft with foam. Passengers were evacuated safely via stairs, rather than using the emergency slides.
In a statement, Frontier Airlines confirmed that all 190 passengers and seven crew members were safely evacuated, with no reported injuries. The cause of the fire is still under investigation by Frontier, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is also involved in the inquiry.
Passengers on the flight described their experiences, with many expressing fear and confusion during the emergency. Jose Mena, a passenger, recalled feeling unsure about what was happening, initially fearing that the plane might explode due to the visible fire. Another passenger, Kevin Joseif, noted the hard landing and subsequent shaking of the plane. Joseif, a firefighter, speculated that the issue could have been related to the brakes or wheels, given the minimal use of water by the fire crews.
Despite the frightening situation, Frontier Airlines assured customers that they would receive refunds for the disrupted flight. However, some passengers expressed hesitation about flying again soon. Joseif mentioned that his family was considering driving home instead of flying after the unsettling experience.
A temporary ground stop at Harry Reid International Airport was in effect following the incident, which lasted until 7 p.m. local time. The investigation into the cause of the fire remains ongoing.
With input from FOX Buiness, CNN, and ABC13 KTNV.
