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Florida-bound Spirit Airlines plane evacuated at LaGuardia

Due to an equipment malfunction, 228 passengers were evacuated Saturday morning.

By Ann Marie Awad
Passengers on Spirit Airlines flight 197 were evacuated at New York's LaGuardia airport after reports of smoke coming from the engine. Photo by Andrew Kuslansky/Twitter
Passengers on Spirit Airlines flight 197 were evacuated at New York's LaGuardia airport after reports of smoke coming from the engine. Photo by Andrew Kuslansky/Twitter

NEW YORK, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- A Spirit Airlines flight bound for Florida was grounded at New York's LaGuardia airport and evacuated Saturday morning after passengers saw smoke coming from the plane's engines.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey reported passengers aboard Spirit Airlines flight 197 were evacuated just before 11 a.m. The airline said sparks were detected in the auxiliary power unit, which provides power to the plane while it's grounded. Aircraft Rescue and Fire arrived to the scene shortly after the auxiliary power unit was shut off.

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No injuries were reported.

1010 WINS reported the flight was cancelled, forcing 228 passengers to re-book another flight. Spirit Airlines issued a statement apologizing for the inconvenience.

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