An American Airlines flight headed to Charlotte, North Carolina, had to return to Harry Reid International Airport shortly after takeoff due to smoke coming from one of its engines. The Airbus A321, with 153 passengers and six crew members on board, departed at 7:57 a.m. and landed back at the airport safely at 8:23 a.m.
According to an American Airlines spokesperson, the aircraft returned because of a mechanical issue, but it was able to taxi to the gate on its own, allowing passengers to disembark normally. The airline expressed gratitude for the crew’s professionalism and reassured that efforts were being made to transport passengers to their destinations promptly.
Witnesses, including Richard Pedrosa, reported seeing flames and smoke from the engine. Pedrosa, who was working nearby, described hearing a loud bang and seeing the aircraft with its engine on fire, followed by a series of booms as the plane circled back to the airport. The incident was alarming for onlookers, but fortunately, the situation was handled without any injuries.
