A Frontier Airlines flight that departed from Denver and was en route to Raleigh, North Carolina, had to turn back due to an odor reported in the cockpit, according to Denver International Airport officials per the NY Post.
The aircraft, an Airbus A321 operating as Frontier Flight 560, took off at 6:42 p.m. MDT and circled back to Denver after approximately 40 minutes into the flight. It landed safely at 7:10 p.m. and parked at the gate half an hour later.
The airport initially stated that the flight returned for medical reasons but later clarified that it was due to a mechanical issue. In air traffic control recordings, the pilot can be heard describing the odor as a contamination in the cabin, distinct from smoke. Frontier Airlines has released a statement regarding the incident.
“Earlier this evening, shortly following takeoff from Denver International Airport, Flight 560 bound for Raleigh-Durham with 160 passengers on board, experienced a fume event which prompted the flight crew to return the aircraft to Denver and request support from emergency medical personnel as a matter of precaution,”
the statement read.
“A number of passengers and the flight crew were seen by EMS professionals at the gate. No reports of individuals requiring further medical treatment have been received.”
The airline stated that they anticipated using a different aircraft to continue the flight later in the evening.
#Clique, what are your thoughts?
