Las Vegas-Bound Flight Apparently Catches Fire During Emergency Landing at Harry Reid Airport

Posted on: October 5, 2024, 09:12h. 

Last updated on: October 5, 2024, 09:17h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More

Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

A Frontier Airlines plane was on fire as it landed at Harry Reid International Airport on Saturday afternoon in Las Vegas.

Smoke and flames were seen from the airplane as it touched down at about 3:37 p.m.

Upon landing, passengers and crew were safety evacuated, according to multiple news reports. There were no injuries reported.

Called ‘Hard Landing’

But an airport spokesperson described it as a “hard landing.” Fire and smoke were seen under the plane, according to MSN.

The passengers evacuated the plane though airstairs. They were put on a bus and driven to a terminal building.

Firefighters rushed to the runway to extinguish the blaze.

“The pilots detected smoke and declared an emergency,” a Frontier Airlines spokesperson later told CBS News.

Frontier flight 1326 experienced a hard landing,” a Harry Reid spokesperson confirmed to CBS News. “The Clark County Fire Department responded immediately and all passengers and crew have been safely transported to the gated area. No injuries were reported.”

It was identified as Frontier Flight 1326. It departed from San Diego International Airport at 1:51 p.m.

It’s not clear what caused the fire. The blaze remained under investigation late Saturday.

Details on damage to the airplane weren’t immediately known. Nor did officials release an estimate to repair the plane.

Recent Mock Drill

The real emergency took place a couple of weeks after a mock drill was held at the airport to prepare for such incidents.

In September, airport officials joined with various Clark County emergency responders to conduct the drill.

The mock disaster included smoke, sirens, actors portraying victims, and emergency vehicles. Firefighters, police officers, and EMTs took part along with airport employees.

“The exercise allows those involved to practice their skills and responses together, in a training environment,” according to an airport statement.

While airport personnel and LAS firefighters regularly train for aircraft incidents, other agencies do not. Emergency responders unaccustomed to working in an airport setting gain experience [and] knowledge and the exercise reinforces their ability to work in a stressful, unfamiliar situation,” the statement added.

Harry Reid airport is required by the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct the emergency exercise once every three years. It’s called a triennial.