Passengers aboard American Eagle Flight 5406 were evacuated onto the wing of the plane after landing at Augusta Regional Airport in Georgia on Tuesday (April 1). The evacuation occurred following reports of smoke filling the cabin. The flight, operated by PSA Airlines, had departed from Charlotte Douglas International Airport and landed safely in Augusta at approximately 9:50 a.m. local time.
Passenger Sean O'Conor captured the evacuation on video, showing travelers climbing onto the plane's wing and jumping off. "It smelled like the brakes were burning or something, the cabin was filled with smoke, and we climbed out on the wing," O'Conor narrated in the footage, adding, "It looks like everybody is safe."
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the incident. The airline confirmed that the CRJ-900 aircraft experienced a "maintenance issue" after landing, and all passengers were escorted to the terminal.
No injuries were reported, and the airline apologized for the inconvenience, emphasizing that customer safety is their top priority. An inspection revealed that an electrical issue caused the smoke inside the cabin.
The return flight to Charlotte was canceled, but the aircraft was back in service the following day.