Passengers and crew on a Spirit Airlines jet at New York LaGuardia Airport were evacuated after smoke was detected in the cabin.
All 228 passengers and seven crew exited the plane safely with no injuries ‘following reports of sparks in the auxiliary power unit,’ a Spirit Airlines statement said.
The Airbus 321 was scheduled to take off for Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport and was still at the gate at the time.
Multiple media outlets reported heavy smoke but this has been played down by emergency services and the airline.
Firefighters found no visible smoke, said Port Authority spokeswoman Cheryl Albiez.
"Everyone was accounted for, there were no injuriesnor further incidents," Albiez said.
Spirit Airlines spokesman Stephen Schuler said the auxiliary power unit automatically shut itself down when sparks were detected.
One passenger, Zach Staggers of Brooklyn, said there were physical signs of smoke.
"Something was smoking on the left side. There were plumes and plumes of smoke coming from us and I heard a flight attendant say under his breath, ‘There’s something wrong.’"
"Everyone rushed to the front in a panic," Staggers said.
