CHARLOTTE, N.C. – An Orlando-bound Frontier Airlines flight was evacuated Wednesday night in Charlotte after a strong odor was detected on the airplane.
A Frontier Airlines spokesperson told the station that Flight 1759, carrying 226 passengers, was evacuated out of precaution and there was no visible sign of smoke or fire on the plane.
Passengers were taken off the aircraft, an Airbus A321neo, via emergency slides and the jet bridge.
Officials said one passenger was taken to a hospital with minor injuries from a fall.
The airline told WBTV-TV that passengers would travel to Orlando on alternate flights.
“We extend our sincere apologies and concern for those impacted and are investigating the cause of the incident,” Frontier said in a statement.
Shayla Coxton, who was a passenger on board the plane, recounted sensing the smell, as well as what happened next.
“It was very bad. Five minutes after that, power goes off and we hear we need everybody to evacuate,” Coxton said. “Saw a few people panicking around me and I immediately said, ‘We got to keep everybody calm because if there’s a stampede, someone’s gonna get hurt.”
No other details were released.