A Southwest Airlines flight experienced a mechanical problem after takeoff from Houston, Texas. Photo credit: Andrew Sandino via Storyful
A Southwest Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing Thursday evening after crew members reported an “unusual smell” and possible smoke in the cabin, an FAA spokesman said.
The Boeing 737 was en route from Las Vegas to Tulsa, Oklahoma, when the pilot turned around and landed safely at Harry Reid International Airport in Vegas around 8:30 p.m. local time, the FAA said.
Southwest Airlines told Fox News Digital in an email Saturday evening: “We did not find anything unusual following the inspection, the aircraft was replaced and continued to fly to its destination.”
When asked what crew members saw, a Southwest spokesman said: “To my knowledge it was not smoke. It was just an unusual smell. In such situations, it is common for emergency vehicles to hit the aircraft.”
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A Southwest Airlines flight returned safely to Las Vegas after crew reported an “unusual smell” in the cabin. (AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images via Getty Images/File/Fox News / Getty Images)
There were no injuries and the FAA said it was investigating the cause of the problem.
A passenger, noted hard rock and heavy metal historian and talk show host Eddie Trunk, posted a video on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) about the situation, with a short video clip of the flashing lights and a crowded airport .
“I fly all the time, but this was the first time,” he wrote. “Vegas to Tulsa at night on @SouthwestAir. Half an hour into the flight, the plane turns around and flies back to Vegas because there is a fire in the cabin. Get out immediately and be surrounded by fire trucks. Crazy, but SW handled it well.”
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Southwest Airlines’ Twitter page responded to his tweet at 7:19 p.m. EST on Saturday.
“Thanks for sharing this with us, Eddie. Please know that the safety of our customers and crew members is our top priority and we appreciate you sticking with us.”