A dramatic moment unfolded when crew members and passengers aboard an American Airlines regional jet were evacuated onto the wing of the plane after smoke filled the cabin upon landing at Augusta Regional Airport, Georgia, on Tuesday morning.
The aircraft, American Eagle Flight 5406, operated by PSA Airlines, had departed from Charlotte Douglas International Airport and landed in Augusta at approximately 9:50am when the emergency unfolded.
Shortly after landing, passengers reported a burning smell and light smoke inside the cabin, prompting an urgent evacuation.
“The cabin was filled with smoke, and we climbed out on the wing,” passenger Sean O’Conor said in a video recorded during the evacuation. “It looks like everybody is safe.”
Footage shared online by Fox News showed passengers using the aircraft’s wing to escape before jumping down to the tarmac.
American Airlines confirmed that the aircraft, a Bombardier CRJ900, experienced a maintenance issue but assured that all passengers deplaned safely and were escorted to the airport terminal.
“The safety of our customers is our top priority, and we apologise for the inconvenience,” the airline stated.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident on Wednesday, another American Airlines regional flight on the same Charlotte-to-Augusta route experienced mechanical issues. The CRJ-700 aircraft circled for about 20 minutes before returning to Charlotte. After a three-hour delay, it later resumed its journey and landed safely in Augusta.
