LAS VEGAS — A preliminary report by federal investigators reveals that a Frontier Airlines flight experienced multiple malfunctions shortly before pilots executed an emergency landing in Las Vegas on October 5. The issues included a faulty electrical system, autopilot failure, and disrupted radio communications, which were noted shortly before the incident. Fortunately, all 190 passengers and seven crew members aboard Flight 1326, which had departed from San Diego, were unharmed during the ordeal.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) findings shared on Monday, crew members detected a burning rubber odor, potentially a chemical or smoke-like substance, approximately 19 minutes prior to landing. In response to this alarming situation, the cockpit team put on oxygen masks and declared an emergency. Meanwhile, vital display screens, radios, and transponders ceased functioning, necessitating immediate emergency procedures from the pilots.
Witness accounts indicate that flames were observed alongside the aircraft, with tires bursting upon landing at 3:10 PM. The Airbus A321-211 created a smoke trail down the runway at Harry Reid International Airport. Fortunately, firefighters managed to extinguish the fire quickly, although passengers remained on board for a time before being evacuated.
Images and footage included in the report illustrated smoke and flames coming from the main landing gear as the aircraft came to a halt. It was noted that damage was largely confined to the landing gear, wheels, tires, and brakes. Interestingly, crew members expressed surprise upon learning from the firefighters that there had been a fire in the right engine, as no indications of engine fire were observed in the cockpit.
The aircraft’s data monitoring systems detected a fault in a cooling fan linked to the control systems around the same time that the unusual odor was noticed. The flight data recorder, which provides vital information during investigations, failed to capture data about nine minutes before the landing due to a loss of electrical power as per emergency protocols. However, the cockpit voice recorder remained functional, and both pieces of equipment are currently under analysis by the NTSB in Washington, with a comprehensive final report expected to take about a year to complete.
Furthermore, reports from KLAS-TV in Las Vegas reveal that several passengers have initiated legal action against Frontier Airlines. They claim they were left “stranded inside the sweltering smoke-filled aircraft for nearly an hour” prior to being evacuated after the emergency landing.