Passengers aboard a Spirit Airlines flight bound for Fort Lauderdale recently experienced a terrifying ordeal. Due to suspected equipment malfunctions, they were instructed to don life vests and prepare for a water landing.
Flight NK270, departing from Jamaica’s Montego Bay on Saturday afternoon, was forced to return to its origin after encountering what the airline described as “a suspected mechanical issue,” as reported by CBS.
Amidst the flight, passengers were rattled by announcements warning of a potential water landing, leaving many nervous and unsettled.
One traveller shared their “nerve-racking” experience with The Gleaner, stating that the plane lost pressure and passengers were told to prepare for an emergency water landing.
Despite the alarming situation, the Airbus A321 aircraft safely landed back at Montego Bay airport without incident. Spirit Airlines affirms that the mechanical issue did not compromise flight safety. Nevertheless, the airline’s maintenance team will thoroughly inspect the aircraft.
The ordeal sparked panic among passengers, with one individual, Bettina Rogers, describing the scene as frightening and chaotic, with people reacting in panic.
Fortunately, despite the harrowing experience, the incident only resulted in a 42-minute delay in travel time, according to flight tracking data.
However, the sight of scattered orange life vests throughout the cabin was a stark reminder of the seriousness of the situation.
This incident comes on the heels of another aviation scare, where severe turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight led to one fatality and injuries to 30 others as the plane rapidly descended 6,000 feet.
