A Southwest Airlines plane heading to Fort Lauderdale from Havana was forced to make an emergency landing at Cuba’s José Martí airport on Sunday after an engine reportedly caught fire following a bird strike, causing chaos and terror among the passengers inside.
Cellphone footage showed smoke filling the cabin of the Boeing 737 as terrified adults banged on the roof in desperation to try to free oxygen masks, while parents tried to explain to their children how to put the masks on their faces.
Video shows passengers on the 11:50 a.m. flight audibly wondering what is going on and at least one adult and one child can be heard crying. One passenger described the ordeal as a loud bang.
Emergency lights inside the plane were on and footage showed customers evacuating the plane via emergency slides on the runway at Cuba’s largest airport as firefighters and trucks looked on after the pilot was able to land.
Outside, on the ground of the airport after the emergency return to the Martí Airport, people can be seen walking down the runway together, with a woman sitting down, all trying to clear the air.
A Southwest Airlines plane bound for Fort Lauderdale from Havana was forced to return to Cuba’s José Martí airport on Sunday after an engine caught fire, causing chaos and terror among passengers inside, following a collision with birds.
Emergency lights inside the plane were on and footage showed customers evacuating the plane via emergency slides on the runway at Cuba’s largest airport as firefighters and trucks looked on.
Steven Rodriguez, a passenger on the flight, compared the sound before the smoke appeared as “like a big bang, a big bang.”
A Southwest Airlines spokesperson has since confirmed the incident.
“Southwest Flight #3923 departing Havana, Cuba, for Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Sunday morning, reportedly experienced bird strikes in an engine and nose of the aircraft shortly after takeoff,” it said. the spokesperson in a statement.
‘We commend the prompt and professional actions of our pilots and flight attendants in response to this event. We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience and have reached out to address their needs and offer assistance,” Southwest added.
Rodríguez claimed that the small safety precautions, such as masks, available to passengers were of little use.
“People began to take matters into their own hands and forcibly beat the ceiling to expel the masks,” Rodríguez said. NBC6. ‘And people had bloody knuckles and all because they were banging on the ceiling. There were small children on the plane and older women.
None of the 147 passengers and the crew of six were injured and the passengers were able to deplane safely at the Martí Airport.
The captain received praise and applause from the travelers for being able to land the plane.
A passenger on the flight compared the sound before the smoke appeared as “like a big bang, a big bang.”
Passenger Steven Rodríguez stated that the small safety precautions, such as masks, available to passengers were of little use during the chaos.
Passengers are seen using the emergency slides in this video that was captured from coverage of the landing.
“The captain was incredible,” said Jorge Montesino. “With just one engine, the left engine, she was able to turn the plane around and land safely.”
However, passengers like Rodríguez had to fear for their lives.
“To be honest, I thought it was my time to go,” he said. ‘I was terrified.’
Radio Rebelde, Cuba’s state media outlet, said the country’s aviation department blamed the attacks on “failures detected in one of its engines during the takeoff process.”
“CACSA indicated that the causes that originated said event are being investigated and stressed that, at this time, the airport facility maintains its regular operations,” said Radio Rebelde.
Southwest Airlines did not confirm an engine failure, but said CNN that the company “will review the aircraft to assess the damage, but has no additional details to share at this time.”
They said customers and crew would be given alternate accommodations to get to Fort Lauderdale, with most having been booked for Monday morning.