Airline passenger recounts cabin preparations for potential water landing following mechanical problem on Spirit Airlines flight.
An Airbus plane, on its way to Fort Lauderdale, made a U-turn and went back to Montego Bay, Jamaica due to a potential mechanical issue, the airline stated. The passengers were then transferred to a different plane to continue their journey.
This event took place during the busiest travel weekend, which saw a new record for the number of travelers screened in a single day by the Transportation Security Administration on Friday.
A passenger, Bettina Rogers, recorded a video of the aircraft's take-off in which a chime could be heard twice in the cabin. However, its meaning remains unclear.
The pilot assured passengers that there was nothing to worry about after the chiming sound, but just a few minutes later, he informed them that the plane needed to return to Montego Bay's airport. While the plane was turning back, the pilot announced they were "Preparing for an emergency water landing."
Rogers described the atmosphere as tense, and passengers were visibly panicking.
Once the plane landed safely, worried chatter prevailed in the cabin, with orange life vests strewn across the seats and floor as passengers boarded the airbridge.
The passengers deplaned "under normal procedures," and a replacement plane was arranged to take them to Fort Lauderdale, Spirit Airlines said in a statement. Rogers managed to reach her destination in Atlanta safely.
"The safety of our Guests is our top priority, and the aircraft will be thoroughly evaluated by our maintenance team," the statement added. "We apologize to our Guests for any inconvenience."
On Monday, a United Airlines flight turning to take off from Chicago O'Hare International Airport was stopped due to a reported engine fire, as per the Federal Aviation Administration's statement.
Additionally, a Southwest Airlines flight from Denver to Tampa was diverted to Colorado Springs due to a possible smell of smoke in the cabin, according to a Southwest statement.
"Southwest flight 1070 landed safely," the airline stated in a message to CNN. "We apologize for any inconvenience."
Crew followed standard procedures, landed the aircraft, and allowed passengers to disembark.
Owing to a few alarming aircraft accidents and minor mechanical issues, some travellers are feeling less certain about air travel.
In 2023, a startling blowout of an Alaska Airlines door kickstarted the incidents, with earthquake-level turbulence damaging several aircraft, potentially injuring hundreds.
Additional cases, such as a missing external panel, flames shooting from an engine and a wheel popping off on United Airlines' Boeing planes, caught the attention of the Federal Aviation Administration.
While such incidents have sparked concern, air safety experts maintain that commercial flights are among the safest ways to travel in the United States. The last major fatal accident occurred in 2009. The number of commercial flight accident deaths in the US amounts to five between 2010 and 2022.
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In the midst of the chaos, the pilot reassured the concerned US passengers that they were handling the situation effectively.
Despite this incident, many traveling Americans express growing apprehensions about the safety of air travel, fueled by recent mechanical issues and accidents.
Source: edition.cnn.com
