Spirit Airlines plane’s tire catches fire at Atlanta airport – but passengers are told by crew to remain in their seats
THE back wheel of a Spirit Airlines plane burst into flames after it landed at Atlanta Airport, leaving terrified passengers to watch smoke billowing past the window.
The flight had just landed at Hartfield-Jackson International Airport when overheating brakes caused the tire to ignite, officials said.
Footage from outside the plane shows flames and smoke billowing from the jet's left-rear tire.
Video of the incident from inside the plane was by a passenger, and shows flight crew trying to calm down frantic holidaymakers.
As passengers scramble to the windows, the crew urge them to remain seated and insist the plane did not need to be evacuated.
"Ladies and gentleman stay seated, stay seated, we do not have to evacuate now," one woman can be heard saying over the speakers.
Read more news
The sounds of seatbelts clicking open can be heard in between announcements.
"Go back to your seats, we do not have to evacuate, please go back to your seats thank you," another worker tells passengers.
A third female member of the flight crew added more instructions, telling passengers: "If the pilot give us command to evacuate we will evacuate."
She also told passengers that if they were asked to evacuate they should leave their bags behind.
Most read in The Sun
Another video posted on Twitter shows a fire truck outside the aircraft putting out the flames.
According to the airline, the smoke was a result of overheated brakes.
“Spirit Flight 383 from Tampa to Atlanta landed safely in Atlanta International Airport and upon landing one of the brakes overheated," the company said in an email statement to the US Sun.
"The aircraft was towed to the gate where Guests safely deplaned without any injuries."
Read More On The Sun
Atlanta Airport also confirmed the incident, saying the fire ignited from the aircraft's brakes in the landing gear.
According to the airport the fire broke out at 9.25am on Sunday when the Spirit Airlines from Tampa landed in Atlanta.