An American Airlines plane made an emergency landing in Las Vegas on Wednesday after smoke was seen from one of its engines. The American Airlines Flight 1665 was forced to return to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas shortly after it took off.
The problem occurred due to a mechanical issue, the airline said in a statement issued following the incident. Videos coming from the eyewitnesses say dark smoke trailed behind the plane’s engines mid-air. Sparks could also be seen going off from its right engine. Flight 1665 in Airbus A21 was carrying 153 passengers and 6 crew members.
The flight departed from Las Vegas at 11 a.m. local time when the incident occurred. Following the incident, the pilot promptly took the plane back and landed safely at the airport, says the New York Daily News. No injuries were reported in the incident as the airline confirmed the aircraft has been taken out of service for further evaluation and repairs.
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A passenger on board said that he saw flames and heard unusual noises. Patrick Chapin, a passenger on board, said that he heard a loud sound of boom sound followed by a persistent rumbling. However, the American airline stated that the mechanics found no evidence of an actual fire following an initial inspection.
“The aircraft taxied to the gate under its power and customers deplaned normally,” American Airlines said in a statement. “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.”
The incident of American Airlines comes amidst global aviation incidents in 2025, including a deadly Air India crash earlier this month and a tragic mid-air collision in January involving an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter. The incident had claimed 67 lives. Frequent aviation incidents are increasing fear among travellers.