Two passengers who were aboard a Frontier Airlines flight that caught fire while landing at Harry Reid International Airport in 2024 have filed a lawsuit against the carrier. Janneth Dominguez and Martin Torres filed the complaint Monday in Clark County District Court, exactly two years after Frontier Airlines Flight 1326 made an emergency landing in Las Vegas.
According to court documents, the Airbus A321 was traveling from San Diego to Las Vegas on Oct. 5, 2024, when the flight crew detected an unusual chemical odor resembling burning rubber or petroleum products as the aircraft approached the airport. The lawsuit alleges the smell intensified, prompting pilots to don oxygen masks and declare an emergency. Several aircraft systems reportedly began failing, including the autopilot, autothrottles and the captain's primary flight display, forcing the crew to rely on limited instrumentation and verbal communication to land.
The complaint states passengers were not informed an emergency had been declared. Flames were visible near the landing gear upon touchdown, the tires exploded and the landing gear collapsed. Dominguez and Torres allege they were exposed to smoke, extreme heat and a violent impact, then kept aboard for nearly an hour before being evacuated down airstairs and bused to the terminal.
Video shared on social media showed flames and thick smoke billowing from the aircraft as it stopped on the runway. Las Vegas resident Dan Pausch, who was on the flight, told 8 News Now at the time that the landing was "pretty hard" and "felt like going down the railroad tracks." He said passengers waited at least 30 minutes before evacuating and did not realize the severity until they saw the rescue vehicles.
Air traffic control audio captured concerns about lost communication with the aircraft. Frontier Airlines confirmed to CBS News at the time that pilots detected smoke and declared an emergency. An airport spokesperson said all passengers and crew were safely evacuated with no injuries reported. The lawsuit, however, alleges Dominguez and Torres suffered physical injuries, shock, emotional distress, pain and suffering, lost wages and medical expenses, accusing Frontier of negligence.
Sources: 8 News Now
Original reporting: 8 News Now →
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