Spirit Airlines is facing backlash from passengers who were onboard a Fort Lauderdale-bound flight after they were instructed to prepare for a potential water landing due to a mechanical issue.
Flight NK270, originating from Montego Bay, Jamaica, was en route to Fort Lauderdale when the incident occurred on Sunday afternoon. According to a statement, the airline’s crew advised passengers to don life vests and brace for the worst out of an abundance of caution.
According to several flight tracking websites, the flight, which was scheduled to depart at 12:45 p.m., took off as planned. However, within minutes, passengers were told to prepare for a possible water landing, and life jackets were distributed to the over 200 people on board.
Passenger Bettina Rogers captured video of the plane’s takeoff in which a chiming signal can be heard twice in the cabin, though the meaning of the signal is unclear. Shortly after the signal, the pilot told passengers there was “nothing to be alarmed about,” Rogers said.
About five minutes later, the pilot informed passengers the plane needed to return to the Montego Bay airport, Rogers said. But as the plane turned back, she said, the pilot announced, “Prepare for emergency water landing.”
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“It was scary, and people were freaking out and panicking,” Rogers said.
The aircraft eventually returned safely to the tarmac at Sangster International Airport and was met by two fire service trucks as the highest emergency protocols were activated.
Spirit Airlines offers compensation
Despite the frightening episode, passengers later continued their journey to Fort Lauderdale, arriving nearly 45 minutes behind schedule, according to FlightAware data.
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Spirit Airlines issued a statement acknowledging the distress caused to its guests and asserting that the affected aircraft would undergo a thorough inspection by its maintenance team. “Safety is our top priority, and the aircraft will be thoroughly evaluated by our maintenance team,” the airline stated, followed by an apology for any inconvenience caused to its passengers.
However, many of the passengers are unhappy with the subsequent response from the airline. One passenger told the Jamaica Gleaner that Spirit Airlines offered a $50 flight credit as compensation.
“After that near-death experience and emotional distress, Spirit wants to offer US$50 credit to use by August of this year. I feel like that is a slap in the face because they put us through such a traumatic experience with an incompetent crew. That is just so unacceptable,” the passenger told The Gleaner.
The Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA) has launched an investigation into the incident.
Speaking with Radio Jamaica News on Monday, the chairman of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority, Lieutenant Colonel Oscar Derby, said he received a report on the incident.
“What happened is that after taking off from Montego Bay, the pilot experienced a pressurization problem. He opted to declare an emergency and to return to Montego Bay airport, which he did. Upon approaching the airport, he would have had the passengers prepare for the emergency landing. He landed safely, and the airplane, upon till late yesterday (Sunday) was still at the airport,” said Derby, who added that Spirit arranged to have the passengers placed on another flight.
He said the JCAA will release the aircraft when it determines that “all is safe for it to go.”