What started as a routine morning flight from Las Vegas to Charlotte quickly turned into a tense situation for passengers aboard American Airlines Flight 1665. The Airbus A321 had barely left the runway at Harry Reid International Airport when a series of loud booms rattled the sky and flames erupted from one of its engines, prompting the crew to turn back.
The flight, which took off around 7:57 a.m. Wednesday with 153 passengers and six crew members, landed safely at 8:23 a.m. despite the dramatic mid-air scare. Witnesses on the ground said the noise and smoke from the aircraft caught their attention right away.
“I was like, ‘Oh my god, it’s going to explode,’” said Richard Pedrosa, who was working at a nearby construction site when he saw the engine catch fire.
“I was kind of scared because that’s the first time I’ve ever seen that.”
Flames, Booms And A Calm Landing
Multiple people across Las Vegas reported hearing loud booming sounds and seeing smoke trail from the plane as it circled back toward the airport. Video clips posted on social media showed flashes and flames shooting from the engine. Mark Jackson, who was in a parking lot at the time, told ABC News he initially thought it was fireworks. “When we looked up and saw what was really happening, I was shocked and super sad thinking about how scared everyone on board must be,” he said.
American Airlines flight AA1665 returns safely to Las Vegas after engine trouble shortly after taking off Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/l81fyVFVI2
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American Airlines confirmed the plane returned due to a mechanical issue. “The aircraft taxied to the gate under its own power and customers deplaned normally,” the airline said in a statement. While the airline insisted there was “no evidence of fire in the engine,” the footage and eyewitness accounts told a different story.
Matthew Villasista, who was golfing at Las Vegas National Golf Club, said the noise was hard to ignore. “We could hear lots of booming noises, almost like a boombox. It sort of stopped us in our tracks,” he told ABC News.
The airline said its maintenance team is evaluating the aircraft and added, “We appreciate the professionalism of our crew and thank our team who are working to get our customers to their destinations as quickly as possible.”
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the flight crew reported engine trouble shortly after takeoff. The FAA is currently investigating the incident, noting that initial details remain under review.
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