A plane from the American company Southwest made an emergency landing on Sunday, without causing injuries, shortly after taking off from Havana airport, after an incident on one of its engines, announced the Aviation Corporation Cuban (Cacsa).
A video posted on Twitter by a passenger shows the nerve-wracking moments leading up to the emergency landing, as smoke billowed across the plane.
Around, cries can be heard, as well as crying children.
The incident occurred after the aircraft struck birds, causing smoke to appear in the cabin, Cuban authorities and the airline said.
According to the Cuban Aviation Corporation (Cacsa), which manages the aviation sector in Cuba, the incident occurred at 12:05 p.m. (17:05 GMT) shortly after the takeoff of the Boeing 737 of the American company Southwest Airlines in destination Fort Lauderdale, Florida (southeastern United States).
“According to established procedure, it (the plane) was cleared to land at Havana airport. The passengers have been evacuated and are in good health,” added the Cacsa, which opened an investigation.
Birds struck one of the engines and the nose of the aircraft, which was carrying 147 passengers and six crew members, Southwest Airlines said.
“The pilots returned safely to Havana where the passengers evacuated the plane via the slides due to smoke in the cabin,” the company said in a statement sent to AFP.
Passengers were to reach Fort Lauderdale on another flight, she added.