Passengers on a Spirit Airlines flight experienced a terrifying ordeal when their new Airbus A321 aircraft prepared for a potential crash water landing shortly after takeoff from Montego Bay, Jamaica. The flight, headed to Fort Lauderdale, was forced to turn around due to what the airline later described as a “possible mechanical issue.”
Panic spread throughout the cabin as oxygen masks were deployed and the crew instructed passengers to brace for a water landing. Adding to the alarm, life vests were manually distributed, and the plane began descending over the Caribbean Sea, prompting fears of an imminent crash. Fortunately, the aircraft made a safe emergency landing back in Montego Bay, and no injuries were reported.
Videos shared online showed the tense moments inside the cabin, with passengers praying and hugging one another. One traveler described it as “the scariest moment of my life.” Spirit Airlines confirmed the emergency procedures were taken out of an abundance of caution and the aircraft has since been removed from service for inspection.
The incident raises new concerns over the safety of recently delivered aircraft and emergency preparedness, even as Spirit maintains that their crews are highly trained for such situations. Passengers were later rebooked on alternate fli
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