william87/iStock Editorial/Thinkstock(DALLAS) — It was a rough afternoon for air travel at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport Thursday.
Two separate planes were forced to evacuate in separate incidents after an American Airlines flight reported possible smoke in the cabin and a Spirit Airlines flight experienced a fire in one of the landing gear tires. The American Airlines flight from Dallas to Chicago was ready for takeoff when the incident occurred.
“American Airlines Flight 1658, from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) deplaned using emergency exits at gate A14 because of possible smoke in the cabin,” American Airlines said in a statement. “Our fleet service team was still on the ramp and assisted passengers and crew with a successful evacuation of the aircraft.”
The flight was carrying 141 passengers and a crew of five. The airline says three people sustained minor injuries during evacuation. The MD-80 jet is an older model aircraft – one that American is currently phasing out of the fleet.
Firefighters at Dallas Airport also responded to a second airplane — a Spirit Airlines jet that touched down from Orlando with a landing gear tire in flames.
“Upon landing in Dallas, Spirit Airlines’ flight 407 experienced a small fire on one of the landing gear tires, which was quickly extinguished by the DFW Airport’s Fire Department,” Spirit Airlines told ABC News in a statement.
All the passengers deplaned safely and there were no injuries. Spirit says their maintenance team is in the process of repairing the tire.
The causes of both incidents are still under investigation.
