COLUMBUS, OH — Passengers on a flight to travel from Columbus, Ohio to Phoenix had quite the scare this morning when FAA officials say the crew on American Airlines flight 1958 reported a bird strike just after taking off.
Video ABC15 received showed flames coming out of the engine after the strike.
Passenger Lori Philpott tells ABC15 she was on her way to Phoenix for a connection before going to Cabo San Lucas.
“Pretty uneventful. Everything was going according to plan and the plane takes off, and we’re ascending into the air and all of a sudden, the most alarming sound ever,” Philpott said.
In a video sent in by a passenger, you can hear the airplane puttering for some time, then a flight attendant went over the intercom saying “Okay, obviously, everybody, we’re having a little situation.”
“I think at that moment, everybody, everybody panicked and started praying, and you know, people were holding hands and stuff,” said Cassandra Sleeper, another passenger on her way to Phoenix.
It was a terrifying experience for everyone. In another video sent to ABC15, you can hear one of the passengers saying, “I’m so scared."
Charles and Felicia Meadows were on the way to Phoenix for a connection as well, planning to go to Hawaii for their honeymoon.
“Our vows were put to the test, let’s just say. I’m like, there’s no way. We literally just got married 48 hours ago and this can’t be like real life,” Felicia said.
People on the ground in Ohio also heard the loud noises and saw the plane in the air with flames. According to Flight Aware, the plane was in the air for about 40 minutes before rerouting back to the Columbus airport.
The plane was able to return safely to John Glenn Columbus International Airport around 8 a.m. Eastern time.
American Airlines released the following statement to ABC15 after the incident:
"American Airlines flight 1958, with service from Columbus (CMH) to Phoenix (PHX), returned to CMH shortly after takeoff due to a mechanical issue. The flight landed normally and taxied safely to the gate under its own power. The aircraft was taken out of service for maintenance and our team is working to get customers back on their way to PHX. Safety is our top priority and we thank our customers for their understanding."
A passenger on the plane tells ABC15 they are scheduled for another flight to Phoenix later in the day Sunday.
The FAA is investigating the incident.
