October 7
An A321? Thankfully, for Boeing, it wasn’t a Boeing! Seems like the Frontier crew did a great job managing the situation under stressful circumstances, from dealing with a fire on the right main gear to smoke in the cockpit and communication issues with ATC. It could’ve been worse, but hats off to them for getting everyone on the ground safely. That said, it’s always interesting to see how incidents like this develop, but no one was hurt, and it’s good that fire crews were quick to respond. Good save!
1 reply
October 8
▶ Raf
You’re right Raf, but there’s more to this than a right mlg fire. Perhaps overheat in the right wheel well after liftoff or something else possibly in cargo adjacent to the area initiating a fire. This type of occurrence is where experience, good judgement and conservative response pays really big dividends. Kudos to the Pilots.
October 8
Unusual amount of garbled news on this incident, with the right engine being repeatedly reported as being on fire in spite of the video not showing that, and the strong implication that the fire existed and was discussed prior to landing.
October 8
Juan Browne on the blancolirio channel has a comprehensive detailing of facts which shed light on what might have happened. Key observations: only one of three ground spoiler panels per wing deployed and the ram air turbine deployed - both together being telltale signs of the electrical system having been taken down to emergency configuration by the crew as per QRH checklist for fire/smoke in cockpit. Injuries were likely avoided by NOT deploying emergency evacuation chutes but rather evacuating by airstair.
Juan Browne points out in his commentary that going immediately to emergency electrical configuration affords the crew the best chance of eliminating the source of fire/smoke. According to Browne this is a change to smoke and fire checklists made by the FAA the early 2000’s.
