Multiple fire trucks responded to a Southwest Airlines plane that made an emergency landing due to an “unusual odor” on board the aircraft.
The Boeing 737 took off from Las Vegas to Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the United States (US) but returned to Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) when the crew became concerned about a strange smell.
According to FOX Business, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the Southwest jet landed back at LAX at around 8:30 pm local time on Thursday, October 12, 2023.
A passenger who was on the flight described the odor in the cabin as a “burning smell” but Southwest said it found nothing unusual on inspection of the aircraft.
“We didn’t find anything abnormal after inspection, aircraft was swapped and continued on to its destination,” the airline told FOX Business on October 14, 2023.
The spokesperson added: “It was not smoke to my knowledge. It was just an unusual odor. Routine for emergency vehicles to meet the aircraft in situations like that.”
Footage from inside the airport after the passengers deplaned was shared on social media. The video appeared to show multiple emergency vehicles outside the terminal with their lights flashing.
I fly constantly but this was a 1st. Vegas to Tulsa Thrs night on @SouthwestAir . Half hour into flight plane turns around & goes back to Vegas because of burning smell in the cabin. Immediately deplane & surrounded by fire trucks.Crazy but SW handled well pic.twitter.com/aU8o1tNKna
— Eddie Trunk (@EddieTrunk) October 14, 2023
Responding to the passenger’s post on X (formally known as Twitter) Southwest wrote: “Please know that the Safety of our Customers and Crew Members is our number one priority, and we appreciate you hanging in there with us.”
The FAA confirmed there were no injuries, and that the agency is investigating the incident.