HORROR ON THE TARMAC: A Frontier plane’s engine shredded…

The affected aircraft, a 5.7-year-old Airbus A320-251N bearing the tail number N365FR, was preparing for its outbound journey as Frontier flight F93134, destined for New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA).

According to sources familiar with the operations, the jet had completed its inbound leg earlier that morning, arriving from Philadelphia (F92387) at 10:25 AM. However, as the aircraft prepared for engine start-up or during a preparatory power-up phase, the extreme suction generated by the aircraft’s number one engine—a robust CFMI LEAP-1A26 turbofan—reportedly drew the nearby ground AC hose directly into the intake.

The consequences were immediate and dramatic. The hose was reportedly shredded into pieces upon contact with the engine’s internal components, indicating a significant foreign object debris (FOD) event. Ground crew members were alerted and responded swiftly, initiating an inspection that quickly confirmed the aircraft was non-serviceable due to the resulting damage.

Nine-Hour Wait for Passengers

The mechanical failure rendered the scheduled flight impossible. Passengers for F93134 faced an extensive wait, spending approximately nine hours at the airport while Frontier scrambled to secure a functional replacement aircraft and re-assign the crew. They eventually departed late in the evening aboard the substitute jet.