Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 Returns To Atlanta After Burning Smell Fills Cabin
Airport firefighters were dispatched to address the incident. However, it is unclear if any fire was detected onboard the aircraft.
Details about the incident
WN3519, operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 8 registered as N8934Q, was bound for Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF). According to Flightradar24, the flight was scheduled to depart from ATL at 15:50 local time, but it instead departed at 16:22.
The aircraft was climbing north of Atlanta just a few minutes after takeoff, but a passenger onboard told Simple Flying that a burning smell required a return to the airport.
After 36 minutes in the air, the MAX 8 touched down from where its trip began. Fire trucks followed the aircraft to gate C7, where all passengers were required to deplane.
A fire truck can be seen on the aircraft’s left side as it was parked back at the gate.
A spokesperson for the airline confirmed the incident in a statement.
