ORLANDO, Fla. (WFLA) — Passengers aboard a Frontier Airways flight heading from Orlando to Puerto Rico received a scare final month when a wheel broke off and hit one of many plane’s engines.
“For a couple of minutes I believed it was the tip of our story right here on Earth,” one passenger wrote after posting video of the scary incident to social media.
The Nationwide Transportation Security Board (NTSB) launched its preliminary report on the incident this week, stating that the touchdown gear wheel and a tire broke off because the aircraft was touching down in San Juan on April 15.
In response to the NTSB, the captain reported listening to a loud banging and seen an engine failure displayed on the plane’s monitor.
The aircraft rapidly climbed again into the air earlier than making a circle and coming down for a second touchdown try on the Luis Munoz Marin Worldwide Airport.
Though a tough touchdown, passengers applauded and wiped away tears as they finally touched down safely. Stairs have been rolled as much as the plane to assist the passengers off and so they have been bussed to the terminal.
Investigators later reported discovering steel fragments from the wheel within the aircraft’s left engine, with harm noticeable on the fan blades and different areas.
The incident stays beneath investigation. No accidents have been reported.
