Florida flight returns to Cuba after bird strike causes engine fire

OAN Deven Berryhill
UPDATED 11:47 AM PT – Monday, March 6, 2023

Southwest Airlines’ flight from Cuba, to Fort Lauderdale was forced to make an emergency return on Sunday due to an engine explosion.

Southwest Flight 2923, which was departing from Jose Marti International Airport and en route to Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport, experienced an engine fire. This was apparently caused by a bird strike.

The plane “experienced bird strikes to an engine and the aircraft’s nose,” The airline released a statement.

Officials stated that the emergency evacuation to Havana was necessary due to cabin smoke and engine fire. According to officials, emergency masks were quickly deployed for the passengers after smoke filled the cabin. There were no reported injuries on board the Southwest flight that landed in Havana.

According to one passenger, some passengers used the emergency exit slides on top of the wings by others in order to get out of the smoke-filled plane.

John Nance is an analyst in aviation. He told ABC News “bird strikes happen everyday in commercial aviation but very seldom does it require an emergency return. We like to error on the side of caution.”

RT @GMAJohn Nance is an ABC News Aviation Consultant and speaks out about Southwest Airlines pilots. “they did exactly what we’re trained to do.”

— Kris Ketz (@KrisKetzKMBC) April 3, 2011

Southwest officials claim that the passengers were bused to Havana and then flown to Fort Lauderdale on a Southwest flight.