Video: Spirit Airlines Flight Catches Fire After Brakes Overheat Upon Landing in Georgia
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No stranger to drama, the budget Spirit Airlines previously dealt with a fire on one of its planes in October 2022, when a bird strike prompted a jet fire and forced pilots to abort takeoff procedures in New Jersey.
Spirit Airlines Flight 383 caught fire early Sunday as the commercial airliner landed at Georgia's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. No injuries were reported following the incident.
Local media have reported that the blaze erupted in the plane's left rear wheel after the aircraft's brakes overheated and caught fire. The incident unfolded at about 9:25 a.m. local time in Atlanta, Georgia. The Spirit flight had been incoming from Tampa, Florida.
Video taken by passengers initially shows several travelers in a panic after the first flames are spotted; however, additional footage from within the plane later noted calm was restored as officials urged individuals that the plane did not need to be immediately evacuated.
A Spirit Airlines Plane Caught Fire While Landing In Atlanta After It’s Brakes Overheated pic.twitter.com/bbOAjB59df
— No Jumper (@nojumper) July 10, 2022
"Nobody knew what it was until we stopped completely in the middle of the landing strip,” passenger Scottie Nelms told Tampa's WTVT news station. “We saw a flame coming from the engine and people and myself started freaking out.”
Shortly after the blaze was extinguished, the plane was successfully towed to a designated gate, where passengers safely disembarked without incident.
Why is the plane on fire @SpiritAirlines? Help!😐 pic.twitter.com/5vQFn178Ir
— . (@imgoinscottie) July 10, 2022
In a statement to local media, a spokesperson for Spirit Airlines detailed that the plane would be removed from service for maintenance.
Airport officials have indicated that the tarmac setback did not impact any scheduled flights on the grounds.
Here’s the fire truck putting out the fire pic.twitter.com/TvXfmmjaEY
— . (@imgoinscottie) July 10, 2022
Spirit Airlines plane.. on fire at ATL? pic.twitter.com/NZV9PAwapJ
— Alaina Hardie (@trianglegrrl) July 10, 2022
The latest comes weeks after a Red Air plane caught fire when landing at Florida's Miami International Airport. Similar to the Sunday incident, the June mishap was also prompted by faulty landing gear.
