A Mystery Odor Onboard A Frontier Flight From Orlando

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The incident occurred on Saturday, when the Frontier aircraft had completed its boarding process and was taxiing away from the gate. As the plane was making its way to the runway to prepare for takeoff, the crew reported a mystery odor. This resulted in the captain turning the aircraft around out of an abundance of caution for the safety of the occupants onboard, and to allow for the aircraft to be inspected.

As the plane returned to the airport gate at MCO, it was met by first responders. Included in these responders were medics, who evaluated the passengers. Of the seven that needed medical assistance, as already mentioned, three were taken to hospitals nearby for treatment. Simple Flying reached out to Frontier for comment on the incident. However, a spokesperson was not immediately available. Once Simple Flying hears back from Frontier Airlines in relation to the recent incident in Orlando, this story will be updated.

It Remains Unclear What Caused The Odor

Credit: Frontier Airlines

At the time of writing, the details of what caused the odor remain unclear. In these situations, the crew is well-trained to take incidents such as these very seriously. It remains unclear if the Frontier incident will be classified as a ‘fume event.’ However, the most likely cause for the onboard odor was due to engine oil, hydraulic fluid, or other byproducts of the aircraft’s electronics entering the ventilation system, and therefore being circulated in the cabin of the plane.

For the Frontier flight attempting to depart from Orlando, airport officials and the airline itself have not yet released a formal explanation as to what occurred. Frontier and its maintenance crew will have inspected the aircraft in full following Saturday’s event to ensure the airworthiness of the aircraft, and any findings may be required for federal reporting. The Association of Flight Attendants has explained that passengers who think they may have been exposed to a ‘fume event’ should see a medical professional.

Four Frontier Airlines Crew Members Were Hospitalized After A Fume Event Last Year

Credit: Denver International Airport

This time last year, a Frontier flight had just departed from Orlando bound for San Juan (SJU) in Puerto Rico. The plane was forced to return to the Florida airport after an unusual odor was suspected in the cabin of the Airbus A321. No passengers were harmed in the incident, but four cabin crew members sought medical attention.

The seriousness of a fume event must be investigated with utmost care and importance, as it can expose passengers and crew to a range of toxic chemicals. This happens when contaminated air leaks into the airplane’s ventilation and air conditioning system. These events can cause smoke, strange odors, and present physical symptoms for both passengers and crew.

Immediate health risks may appear after inhaling such fluids, with acute symptoms including eye or respiratory irritation, nausea, or neurological issues. If these fumes enter the cockpit, it could lead to dizziness, disorientation, and headaches, which would seriously impair the flight crew’s ability to safely fly the aircraft.