The flight from Havana, Cuba, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was forced to turn around after one of its engines and nose were hit by birds.
The plane filled with smoke, and all 147 passengers and six crew members were safely evacuated. However, footage posted on Twitter showed passengers posing for selfies on a wing and clutching their luggage as they slid down the emergency slide, indicating that they did not follow standard evacuation rules.
Airlines do not recommend taking luggage off in case of an emergency landing. The passengers’ behaviour was criticised on social media, with many calling out their “stupidity” and arguing that it put people’s lives at risk.
Some even called for federal penalties for those who took their luggage off the plane during the emergency evacuation. Despite the backlash, some passengers were frightened and panicked during the incident, according to reports.
The Southwest PR team commended the swift and professional actions of the pilots and flight attendants during the emergency landing and apologised to customers for the inconvenience, offering support. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
»Southwest Airlines filled with smoke on air, and forced to turn around back to Cuba«
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