A flight from Frontier Airlines arriving from Orlando, Florida, experienced a tense incident on the night of this Tuesday during its landing at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (LMM) in Carolina, Puerto Rico.
"An Airbus A320-251NP from Frontier Airlines, operating a flight to San Juan (SJU) from Orlando (MCO), suffered a malfunction in its left engine (Number 1/Port), causing passengers to experience panic as they saw flames emanating from the exhaust", described the aviation news portal FL360aero on X.
The same source added that the aircraft, "powered by CFMI LEAP-1A engines, landed smoothly at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) without any major issues."
The airport authorities subsequently clarified that no fire occurred and that the event is under investigation.
According to the Puerto Rican outlet Primera Hora, the incident occurred during the "initial landing on runway ten," which required the pilot "to climb again and make a second descent on runway 8-26."
This maneuver, uncommon for passengers unfamiliar with aviation procedures, created moments of distress on board.
A passenger described the moment to the mentioned media outlet as a landing that “hit really hard. Horrible.”
Videos and rumors of fire on social media
The incident quickly garnered attention on social media, where a brief video has gone viral, seemingly showing fire coming from one of the airplane's engines amid the screams and excitement of the passengers.
Telemundo Puerto Rico was one of the first to report that the plane had burst into flames - in an article that was later deleted - and that "the fire reportedly started in one of the engines shortly before the aircraft descended."
However, the airport authorities have categorically denied that version.
On Facebook, internet user Víctor Martínez documented the moment when the passengers disembarked from the plane.
In official statements reported by El Nuevo Día, Aerostar Airport Holdings, the operator of the airport, reiterated that "there was no fire and that the details of the incident are under investigation and must be reported by the airline."
At the same time, Nelman Nevarez Padilla, operations director of the airport, emphasized in statements to Primera Hora that “the incident did not cause a fire, contrary to what has been reported on social media.”
Safe evacuation and activation of protocols
Following the incident, airport emergency protocols were immediately activated.
Aerostar Puerto Rico activated its emergency protocol to evacuate the 228 passengers via the taxiway using airport vehicles.
Nevarez Padilla also indicated that "for safety" the airplane remained on the taxiway adjacent to the runway while emergency teams conducted inspections and "debris removal to ensure safety and continuity of air operations on runway 10-28."
Repercussions on airport operations
The incident not only affected the passengers of the involved flight, but also temporarily disrupted airport operations.
As a result of the incident, takeoffs and landings were temporarily delayed, and nearly a dozen flights remained in the air waiting to land.
"Two were returned to Fort Lauderdale and three were diverted to Aguadilla Airport."
As of the closure of this report, there are no further details about what happened.
Frontier Airlines is a low-cost American airline founded in 1994, based in the city of Denver, Colorado.
It operates domestic and international flights within the American continent, distinguished by its ultra-low-cost fare model and its emphasis on efficient and sustainable operations.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Frontier Airlines Flight Incident in Puerto Rico
What happened with the Frontier Airlines flight in Puerto Rico?
The Frontier Airlines flight from Orlando, Florida, experienced an issue with the left engine while landing at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Despite passengers panicking upon seeing flames, the aircraft was able to land without any major incidents.
Was there a fire in the engine of the Frontier Airlines plane?
Although videos circulating on social media seemed to show fire, airport authorities confirmed that there was no fire. The engine displayed flames, but it was not an uncontrolled fire, and the incident is under investigation.
What security measures were implemented after the Frontier Airlines flight incident?
After the incident, the airport's emergency protocols were activated, safely evacuating all 228 passengers. In addition, inspections and debris removal were carried out to ensure safety on the runway.
How did the incident affect airport operations in San Juan?
The incident caused temporary delays in takeoffs and landings at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, affecting several flights that had to wait to land or be diverted to other airports.
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