An American Airlines flight en route to Charlotte was forced to make an emergency landing Wednesday morning shortly after takeoff from Harry Reid International Airport. According to eyewitnesses, the aircraft’s left engine emitted smoke and appeared to catch fire.
Flight 1665, an Airbus A321 carrying 153 passengers and six crew members, had departed Las Vegas at 8:11 AM local time when the incident occurred. The pilot promptly turned the plane around and landed safely back at the airport, as reported by the New York Daily News.
“The aircraft taxied to the gate under its own power and customers deplaned normally,” American Airlines stated in a press release. “We appreciate the professionalism of our crew and thank our team who are working to get our customers to their destinations as quickly as possible.” No injuries were reported, and the airline confirmed the aircraft has been taken out of service for further evaluation and repairs.
Eyewitnesses and passengers described seeing flames and hearing unusual noises. Patrick Chapin, a passenger on board, told local media that he heard a “boom” followed by a persistent rumbling. However, American Airlines stated that its mechanics found no evidence of an actual fire during an initial inspection.
Airport public information officer Luke Nimmo confirmed that the aircraft landed safely and taxied without assistance. Video footage captured by local resident Annette Riding showed black smoke trailing from the left engine moments after takeoff, as reported by Queen City News.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the incident. This emergency landing occurs amidst a series of global aviation incidents in 2025, including a deadly Air India crash earlier this month and a tragic mid-air collision in January involving an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter, which claimed 67 lives.
