American Airlines Jet Returns to Las Vegas After Engine Smoke; FAA Opens Probe

An American Airlines Airbus A321 operating as Flight 1665 returned to Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport on Wednesday after smoke and flashes of light were seen coming from its left engine minutes after take-off.

The jet, which departed at 8:11 a.m. local time for Charlotte, North Carolina, landed safely at 8:20 a.m. and taxied to the gate under its own power. All 153 passengers and six crew members deplaned without injury, according to the airline and airport officials.

American Airlines said the incident stemmed from a mechanical issue and that an initial inspection showed no evidence of an onboard fire. The aircraft has been removed from service for detailed maintenance, while a recovery flight was arranged for affected travellers.

The Federal Aviation Administration has opened an investigation. Dan Bubb, a former commercial pilot who now teaches aviation history at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said video and eyewitness accounts are consistent with a compressor stall—a disruption of airflow that can cause loud bangs and visible sparks—but noted the exact cause will be determined by regulators and the airline’s technical team.