A Frontier Airlines flight departing from Denver International Airport (DEN) bound for Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) in North Carolina was forced to return due to a reported stench emanating from the cockpit.
The incident occurred on September 19, 2023. Flight F9 560 was 40 minutes into the flight when the flight turned back.
In air traffic control recordings posted on LiveATC.net, the pilot can be heard reporting an unpleasant odor in the cockpit.
The pilot said that the smell was not smoke, but mentioned that it was “indicating that we have some kind of contamination in the cabin.”
Details from flight tracking site FlightAware show that the flight turned back shortly after take off.
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Frontier Airlines has since issued a statement published by various local media. It reads:
“Earlier this evening, shortly following takeoff from Denver International Airport, Flight 560 bound for Raleigh-Durham with 160 passengers on board, experienced a fume event which prompted the flight crew to return the aircraft to Denver and request support from emergency medical personnel as a matter of precaution. A number of passengers and the flight crew were seen by EMS professionals at the gate. No reports of individuals requiring further medical treatment have been received.”
