LAS VEGAS (CONVERSEER) – An American Airlines flight made an emergency landing at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas on Wednesday morning after smoke and sparks were seen coming from one of its engines shortly after takeoff.
Flight 1665, en route to Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina, was forced to return to Las Vegas due to what the airline described as a mechanical issue. The aircraft, an Airbus A321, was carrying 153 passengers and six crew members.
Eyewitness footage captured during the incident showed dark smoke trailing from the plane midair, with visible sparks emerging from its right engine.
In a statement, American Airlines confirmed the aircraft landed safely and taxied to the gate under its own power. “Customers deplaned normally,” the airline said, adding, “We appreciate the professionalism of our crew and thank our team, who are working to get our customers to their destinations as quickly as possible.”
According to Fox News, no injuries were reported.
The aircraft has been removed from service and will be examined by American Airlines’ maintenance team to determine the cause of the malfunction.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it was aware of the incident and confirmed that the crew reported an engine issue before safely returning to the airport around 8:20 a.m. local time.
“The FAA will investigate,” the agency said in its statement.
Harry Reid International Airport, formerly known as McCarran International Airport, resumed normal operations following the emergency landing.