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Southwest Airlines Plane Makes Emergency Landing at Hobby Airport After Engine Fire
Houston, TX — April 19, 2025
Panic and chaos filled the cabin of Southwest Airlines Flight 2847 on Saturday morning when one of its engines erupted in flames shortly after takeoff, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing at Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport. The dramatic midair emergency was captured on passengers’ phones and has since gone viral, sending waves of concern across the country.
The flight, scheduled to depart Houston en route to Orlando, Florida, took off at 9:08 AM local time. By 9:17 AM, flight attendants were already rushing down the aisles as passengers near the left wing reported hearing a loud bang and seeing flames shoot from the engine.
“I looked out the window and saw fire just pouring out of the engine. My heart stopped,” said Sherry Lamont, a mother of three seated in 18A. “There was smoke, people were crying, and the flight attendants were trying to keep us calm. But everyone thought we were going down.”
According to Southwest Airlines, the plane, a Boeing 737-800 carrying 143 passengers and 5 crew members, suffered what the airline has described as a “contained engine event.” Preliminary reports from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) suggest that a mechanical failure in the left engine may have caused an internal fire, though investigators have not yet determined the exact cause.
Captain Mitchell Reeves, the flight’s 42-year-old pilot with over 12,000 flight hours, quickly declared an emergency and turned the plane back toward Hobby Airport. Passengers report that Captain Reeves made a calm but urgent announcement over the intercom, advising them to brace for landing.
“Captain Reeves saved our lives,” said passenger Jenna O’Malley, who was on her way to Orlando to visit family. “He was calm, focused, and handled the situation like a true professional.”
Emergency services were dispatched to the runway ahead of the plane’s return. Hobby Airport’s fire and rescue crews lined the tarmac as the aircraft descended. Passengers said they felt the plane shake during descent, and many held hands or prayed in silence as they awaited impact.
At 9:31 AM, just 23 minutes after takeoff, Flight 2847 made a hard but successful emergency landing. Flames were reportedly visible for several seconds after touchdown before they were extinguished by airport fire crews. All passengers and crew were safely evacuated using the emergency slides.
While no serious injuries were reported, three passengers were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation, and one elderly man was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital after complaining of chest pains. His condition is currently listed as stable.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation and has already dispatched a team to examine the aircraft. Initial photos show a charred and melted engine cowling on the left side of the plane. Experts say that while modern aircraft are built to withstand engine fires, such incidents are rare and always warrant thorough investigation.
In a press briefing held at noon, Southwest Airlines CEO Robert Jordan praised the crew’s response and confirmed that all passengers would be offered counseling services, as well as full refunds and travel vouchers.
“We are incredibly grateful that no lives were lost today,” Jordan said. “Our pilots and cabin crew acted swiftly and heroically under unimaginable pressure. We are cooperating fully with the FAA and NTSB to understand exactly what happened and to ensure it never happens again.”
Many of the passengers have since spoken to local media outlets, describing what they say were the most terrifying 15 minutes of their lives.
“There was this little boy behind me, maybe six years old. He was holding a teddy bear and asking his mom if the plane was going to fall. I’ll never forget that,” said passenger Arturo Mejía. “When we landed, people started clapping and crying. We knew we’d just escaped death.”
Some passengers also raised concerns about the aircraft’s condition, saying they heard unusual engine noise even before takeoff. One woman, who asked not to be named, claimed she mentioned the sound to a flight attendant but was told everything was fine.
This incident marks the second engine-related emergency landing involving Southwest Airlines in less than a year. In August 2024, a similar Boeing 737 experienced a turbine malfunction while flying over New Mexico, though that plane landed safely in Albuquerque without injury.
Aviation analyst and former NTSB investigator Michael Tremblay told KPRC News that recurring engine issues across similar aircraft could point to a broader maintenance concern.
“If this is part of a pattern, the FAA may require Southwest to ground certain jets for inspection,” Tremblay said. “We’re still in the early stages of understanding what went wrong today, but what’s clear is that the pilots did an exceptional job.”
Passengers have been offered hotel accommodations and rebookings for alternate flights. Southwest has also pledged to reimburse medical expenses and provide additional support for any long-term trauma related to the incident.
The flight’s dramatic events have already sparked renewed debate over aviation safety standards. Consumer advocacy groups are calling for stricter oversight of airline maintenance procedures, while lawmakers in Texas and Florida have issued statements demanding accountability.
“We need to ensure that every person who boards a plane in this country can do so with complete confidence in their safety,” said Representative Ana Ruiz (D-TX). “This could have ended in tragedy.”
At Hobby Airport, the runway was temporarily closed for inspection and cleanup but has since reopened. The damaged aircraft remains grounded and cordoned off pending further investigation.
For now, the passengers of Flight 2847 are counting their blessings.
“I don’t think I’ll be flying again anytime soon,” said a visibly shaken Marlon Hayes as he reunited with his family outside the airport terminal. “But I’m alive. We’re all alive. That’s what matters.”
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