'We're on fire, love you': Passengers' terror after engine explosion on Spirit Airlines flight causes flames and thick smoke to engulf plane

  • Flight 165 from Dallas to Atlanta forced to make an emergency landing on Tuesday
  • Passengers said plane shook for several minutes before they heard a loud bang and white smoke filled the cabin

By Louise Boyle

Published: | Updated:


A Spirit Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing on Tuesday after an engine exploded and flames engulfed one side of the plane.

Passengers reported that the Airbus A319 was shaking for several minutes before they heard a loud bang and flames lit up one side of the aircraft.

Fred Edwards, who was on a business trip, said he feared the worst and immediately texted his wife and children: 'We're on fire, love you.'

Flight 165 from Dallas to Atlanta suffered a mechanical failure about 20 minutes into the two-hour journey.

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Frightened passengers began to call their families leaving final messages after the engine explosion on the Spirit Airlines flight

Frightened passengers began to call their families leaving final messages after the engine explosion on the Spirit Airlines flight

A Spirit Airlines flight traveling from Dallas to Atlanta on Tuesday suffered an engine explosion causing an emergency landing

A Spirit Airlines flight traveling from Dallas to Atlanta on Tuesday suffered an engine explosion causing an emergency landing. A picture of the glow reflected from the flames was captured by a passenger

Passenger Fred Edwards said that he texted his wife and children to tell them that he loved them after he saw flames shooting from one of the plane's engines

Passenger Fred Edwards said that he texted his wife and children to tell them that he loved them after he saw flames shooting from one of the plane's engines


Thick smoke began to pour into the cabin vents, making it difficult for the panicked passengers to see.

There were 145 passengers on board the Airbus A319 at the time of the emergency.

Several passengers told CBS that the situation seemed so dire that they began sending final text messages to their families telling them that they loved them.

Mr Edwards said: 'Shortly after the big explosion went off and lit up the side of the airplane it (smoke) just poured in all the vents... before you know it you couldn't see and that's when everyone got scared.

He sent a message to his wife, adding: 'I figured I would text her and let her know I love her and let the kids know I love them too.

'It was pretty traumatic, you know, there for a few minutes I thought it was pretty much over.'

Misty Pinson, spokeswoman for Spirit Airlinesm told MailOnline today: 'Yesterday afternoon, shortly after take-off of flight 165 from DFW to Atlanta the captain received an indication of a possible mechanical issue.

The Airbus A319 suffered an engine malfunction with 145 passengers on board

The Airbus A319 suffered an engine malfunction with 145 passengers on board

Relief: One passenger took this picture of a fire truck which raced to the plane once the flight had landed safely at Dallas Fort Worth airport

Relief: One passenger took this picture of a fire truck which raced to the plane once the flight had landed safely at Dallas Fort Worth airport

'There was smoke in the cabin. One engine was shut down which is normal procedure under these circumstances. However, this aircraft can operate on one engine.

'Following procedure and as a safety precaution, the plane returned to DFW. It was a normal landing and customers safely deplaned.

She added: 'There were no injuries. We had another plane taking customers to Atlanta.'

Spirit Airlines said they have not determined the cause of the explosion but are investigating.

Flight 165 left Dallas Fort Worth Airport at 1.26pm on Tuesday and was scheduled to arrive in Atlanta at 4.27pm. Passengers reached their final destination around 9pm that evening.

Terror: Around 20 minutes into the 2-hour flight from Dallas to Atlanta, passengers heard a loud bang and smoke filled the cabin

Terror: Around 20 minutes into the 2-hour flight from Dallas to Atlanta, passengers heard a loud bang and smoke filled the cabin

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