An unexpected turn of events caused chaos at Charlotte Douglas International Airport on August 16, 2025. A ground air-conditioning hose got sucked into the engine of a Frontier Airlines Airbus A320 (tail number N365FR), leaving passengers and crew stunned. The affected flight, F93134, was scheduled to take off from Charlotte to LaGuardia, but the damage rendered the aircraft non-serviceable. Passengers were eventually transferred to a replacement aircraft and departed approximately 9 hours later.
The drama unfolded when the A320 arrived from Philadelphia (flight F92387) at 10:25 AM. As it prepared for departure to New York, the powerful suction of its engine reportedly pulled in the ground air-conditioning unit hose. The hose was shredded upon contact with the CFMI LEAP-1A26 engine, prompting an immediate response from ground crew and inspection.
In the aftermath, no injuries were reported, and Frontier’s operations team handled the situation efficiently. Despite initial confusion about the aircraft type (initial reports suggested it might be an A321), it was confirmed that the aircraft involved was indeed an A320, not an A321. This incident serves as a reminder of the potential hazards of ramp operations, but airline and airport safety protocols minimized the risk to passengers and staff.