An unexpected incident involving a Frontier Airlines Airbus A320 (tail number N365FR) caused significant delays at Charlotte Douglas International Airport on August 16, 2025. A ground air-conditioning hose was reportedly sucked into the aircraft’s #1 engine and shredded to pieces during pre-departure ramp activity.
The affected flight, F93134, was scheduled to travel 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.
What Happened
According to aviation sources, the A320 had arrived earlier that day from Philadelphia (flight F92387) at 10:25 AM. While preparing to depart for New York, the powerful suction of the aircraft’s engine reportedly pulled in a ground air-conditioning unit hose. The hose was shredded upon contact with the CFMI LEAP-1A26 engine, prompting immediate ground crew response and inspection.
Watch video footage of the incident in the comments section.
Aircraft Details:
Aircraft Type: Airbus A320-251N
Tail Number: N365FR
MSN (Manufacturer Serial Number): 9340
First Flight: June 12, 2019
Engines: 2 x CFMI LEAP-1A26
While this event serves as a reminder of the potential hazards of ramp operations, airline and airport safety protocols ensured that the risk to passengers and staff was minimized.