On Mar 30th 2026, a Frontier Airlines Airbus A321-200N, registration N622FR, operating flight F9-6 from St. Louis to Punta Cana, was forced to divert after an in-flight engine issue startled passengers and crew.
The aircraft was cruising at FL330 about 50 nautical miles southeast of Nashville when the crew made the decision to divert. According to passengers on board, unusual noises were heard prior to the captain announcing that one of the engines, a Pratt & Whitney PW1133G, had experienced a rollback—an event where engine thrust significantly reduces unexpectedly.
Some passengers also reported seeing flames coming from the affected engine, adding to the concern inside the cabin.
Despite the alarming situation, the flight crew maintained full control of the aircraft and executed a safe diversion, landing on runway 20L in Nashville approximately 25 minutes later.
No injuries were reported.
A replacement Airbus A321neo, registration N629FR, was arranged to continue the journey to Punta Cana, eventually arriving with a delay of about 10 hours.
The affected aircraft remained grounded in Nashville for nearly a week following the incident, undergoing inspections and maintenance before being repositioned to Orlando on Apr 6th 2026.
Engine rollback events are rare but serious occurrences that require immediate attention. The crew’s prompt response and safe handling of the situation ensured that what could have escalated into a far more dangerous scenario ended without harm.
