On Tuesday, August 15, eyewitnesses captured footage of flames protruding from a Southwest Airlines jet soon after its ascent from Houston’s Hobby Airport.
The aircraft, on route to Cancun, executed an emergency landing due to mechanical concerns.
The problem was evident in Flight 307’s right engine, with the flames and dark smoke captured in videos. Ground observer, Andrew Sandino, described the scene, mentioning big fireballs and the plane’s significant lateral movements.
Following a brief 16-minute flight, the plane successfully returned to Hobby Airport. The passengers were then placed on a different flight to continue to Cancun.
Southwest Airlines acknowledged the mechanical disturbance experienced by Flight 307 and indicated its removal for a comprehensive check.
Kathleen Bangs, with a background as a commercial airline pilot and representing FlightAware, emphasized the aircraft’s potential to operate safely with just one functional engine. Southwest Airlines maintains a clean record, with no fatal crashes since its inception.