What began as a standard morning flight from Las Vegas to Charlotte swiftly escalated into a tense scenario for the passengers on American Airlines Flight 1665. The Airbus A321 had scarcely departed from the runway at Harry Reid International Airport when a series of loud explosions disturbed the sky, and flames erupted from one of its engines, leading the crew to return to the airport.
The flight, which took off at approximately 7:57 a.m. on Wednesday with 153 passengers and six crew members, managed to land safely at 8:23 a.m. despite the alarming incident in mid-air. Observers on the ground reported that the noise and smoke from the aircraft immediately drew their attention.
“I thought, ‘Oh my god, it’s going to explode,’” recounted Richard Pedrosa, who was working at a nearby construction site when he witnessed the engine ignite.
“I felt quite frightened because it was the first time I had ever seen something like that.”
Flames, Explosions, and a Composed Landing
Numerous individuals throughout Las Vegas reported hearing loud booming noises and observing smoke trailing from the plane as it circled back to the airport. Video footage shared on social media captured flashes and flames emanating from the engine. Mark Jackson, who was in a parking lot at the time, informed ABC News that he initially mistook the sounds for fireworks. “When we looked up and realized what was actually occurring, I was astonished and deeply saddened, thinking about how terrified everyone on board must be,” he stated.
