Smoking engine forces American Airlines to abort flight

An American Airlines flight headed to Charlotte was forced to make an emergency landing on Wednesday morning shortly after departing from Harry Reid International Airport, as witnesses reported smoke and apparent flames coming from the aircraft’s left engine.

Flight 1665, an Airbus A321 with 153 passengers and six crew members on board, had taken off from Las Vegas at 8:11am local time when the pilot reversed course and returned safely to the airport, according to the New York Daily News.

“The aircraft taxied to the gate under its own power and customers deplaned normally,” American Airlines said in a statement. “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,” it added.

No injuries were reported, and the airline confirmed the aircraft has been taken out of service for further evaluation and repairs.

Eyewitnesses and passengers reported 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, Queen City News reported.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the incident.

This emergency landing comes amid a string 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.