A flight from Eastern Air Express scheduled to travel from Miami to Camagüey was evacuated on the runway just moments before takeoff, with over 50 people on board. According to reports from passengers' relatives, the evacuation at Miami International Airport was executed using emergency slides, as shared by Telemundo 51 journalist Alexis Boentes on his Facebook profile.
Passengers on the aircraft reported a "burning smell" in the cabin, prompting the activation of safety protocols. However, firefighters inspecting the plane found no signs of a fire.
WSVN reported that flight BBQ2241, carrying 54 passengers and three crew members, was scheduled to depart for Ignacio Agramonte International Airport in Camagüey, Cuba, at 11:40 a.m. on Friday. The aircraft started taxiing at 11:22 a.m. but returned to the gate due to an "electrical odor" detected in the cabin. The evacuation was conducted using emergency slides while Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units swiftly responded to the scene.
Although firefighters did not find any evidence of a fire upon inspecting the aircraft, the decision was made to evacuate all passengers as a precaution and to thoroughly assess the situation. Emergency teams are continuing to investigate the source of the odor while assessing whether any passengers were injured during the incident. As of now, there have been no reports of fires or serious injuries.
In a separate incident, at least 12 vehicles caught fire on Wednesday in a parking garage at Miami International Airport (MIA), with no injuries reported, according to authorities. The blaze broke out between the first and second levels of the Flamingo Garage at MIA around 11:35 a.m. Four vehicles were engulfed in flames, and eight others parked nearby were also damaged, stated Rogelio Vandamas, the interim chief for the North District of the Miami-Dade Fire Department.
In December, an American Airlines aircraft bound for Miami had to abort its takeoff at José Martí International Airport in Havana due to a malfunction in the indicators of one of the rear passenger doors.
Key Information About Miami-Camagüey Flight Incident
What prompted the evacuation of the Miami-Camagüey flight?
Passengers reported a "burning smell" in the cabin, which led to the activation of safety protocols and the subsequent evacuation.
Did the firefighters find any signs of fire on the aircraft?
No, firefighters did not detect any signs of fire during their inspection of the aircraft.
Were there any injuries reported in the Miami airport parking garage fire?
No injuries were reported in the fire that affected 12 vehicles in the parking garage at Miami International Airport.