A commotion erupted on the tarmac at Charlotte Douglas International Airport on Wednesday night following an unusual evacuation incident.
Frontier Airlines Flight 1759 bound for Orlando was in the midst of boarding when the crew detected a strong odor inside the plane.
Opting for caution, the crew swiftly ordered the hundreds of passengers already onboard to evacuate.
Cellphone footage captured the hurried evacuation, showing bewildered and distressed passengers descending via emergency slides, with some receiving assistance upon landing on the tarmac.
Despite the tense situation, some passengers found moments of levity, with children seemingly enjoying the slide experience.
Flight data revealed that the Airbus 321neo was scheduled for departure at around 10:52 pm, but the incident occurred before the plane could leave the gate.
Out of the 226 evacuated passengers, only one person sustained minor injuries and was hospitalized for a knee injury.
Frontier Airlines expressed apologies and pledged to assist passengers in rebooking alternative flights.
The cause of the strong odor, initially reported as smoke in the cabin, remains under investigation.
Despite the lack of visible smoke or fire, the incident caused disruption during a busy travel week, coinciding with spring break.
Frontier Airlines aims to swiftly reaccommodate affected passengers to ensure their onward journey to Orlando.
