Passengers on a Spirit Airlines flight from Jamaica to Florida were told to prepare for a water emergency Saturday after a possible mechanical problem.
Flight NK270 departed Montego Bay on Saturday afternoon en route to Fort Lauderdale before returning to its origin shortly after takeoff “following a suspected mechanical issue,” the airlines said in a statement.
Out of an abundance of caution, passengers were told to put on life jackets and prepare for a water landing, the airline said.
The Airbus A321 landed safely at Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport (MBJ) and guests departed normally, the airline said, adding that “the mechanical issue did not impact flight safety.” Passengers were put on a new flight to Fort Lauderdale, where they arrived just under 45 minutes later than scheduled, according to data from FlightAware.
“The pilot told us to prepare for a water landing and the highest emergency was activated at MBJ,” a passenger told Jamaican daily The Gleaner, adding: “We were told the plane was losing pressure.”
The passenger added: “It was nerve-wracking.”
The airline said the aircraft would be thoroughly evaluated by its maintenance team.
“We apologize to our guests for any inconvenience caused,” the airline said.
—Kathryn Krupnik contributed reporting.
