Airport officials said a Frontier Airlines flight departing from Orlando International Airport was forced to return to the gate before takeoff after the crew reported an odor onboard, leading to a response from airport officials and medical evaluations for several passengers.
The incident occurred at about 4:20 p.m. on Saturday, according to Rod Johnson, assistant vice president of public affairs for the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. Johnson said the aircraft had not taken off when the issue was reported, and the flight was brought back to the gate as a precaution.
Authorities said seven passengers were evaluated following the incident. Of those, three were transported for further treatment or assessment. No additional details were immediately released about the nature of the odor, the condition of the passengers, or whether the plane was later cleared to depart.
Frontier Airlines had not responded to a request for comment as of Sunday, according to News 6. The airline’s response, if any, could provide more information about the cause of the onboard odor and any impact on the flight schedule.
Orlando International Airport is one of the busiest airports in Florida and handles a large volume of domestic and international traffic. Incidents involving unusual odors or possible cabin air issues are typically treated seriously by crews and airport personnel, especially when passengers report feeling ill or need medical evaluation.
Officials did not say how many people were aboard the flight, what destination it was headed to, or whether the aircraft was later removed from service for inspection. It also was not immediately clear whether the transported passengers were taken to a hospital or another medical facility.
The event occurred on Saturday afternoon and was reported publicly through airport officials. As of Sunday, no further update had been provided regarding the flight’s status or the cause of the incident.
