Southwest Airlines flight makes emergency landing in Cuba
A Southwest Airlines flight traveling from Havana to Fort Lauderdale had to turn back to Cuba’s Jose Marti Airport after an engine reportedly caught fire due to a bird strike. According to NBC 6 News, the incident was confirmed by a Southwest Airlines spokesperson. The airline said that Flight 3923 experienced bird strikes to an engine and shortly after takeoff.
Passenger cell phone footage showed smoke filling the cabin as parents appeared to explain to their children how to fit oxygen masks. Emergency was activated, and passengers evacuated the plane via emergency slides on the runway at Cuba’s largest airport. Firefighters and trucks were present during the evacuation. Thankfully, there were no serious injuries, and all passengers were safely evacuated in Havana.
Este es un video desde dentro del avión, en el que al parecer ha entrado humo a la cabina. Un pasajero ha declarado que se ha escuchado una explosión en uno de los motores, lo que ha ocasionado el aterrizaje de emergencia.
— On The Wings of Aviation (@OnAviation) March 5, 2023
📸 Unknown pic.twitter.com/Z4LgPKKca5
Southwest Airlines stated that the pilots safely returned to Havana, and customers evacuated the aircraft via slides due to smoke in the cabin. The Boeing 737 was carrying 147 passengers and six crew members. The incident is being investigated by the Cuban civil aviation authority, Cacsa.
It is fortunate that there were no serious injuries in this incident. Southwest Airlines has a good safety record, and they take safety seriously. It is not uncommon for birds to cause engine problems, as birds can get sucked into the engines and cause damage. In some cases, birds can even bring down an airplane, which is why airports take measures to prevent birds from coming near airplanes.
Passengers should always pay attention to safety instructions when flying, as it can make a difference in an emergency situation. It is also important to remain calm and follow instructions during an emergency evacuation, as this can help prevent injuries. Emergency slides can be dangerous, so passengers must use caution when sliding down them.
