Plane panic as jet ‘falls apart’

PASSENGERS were left in ‘complete panic’ when an aircraft engine fell apart and burst into flames moments after take-off.

The Frontier Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Tampa, Florida, carrying 172 people, was forced to make an emergency landing after the jet, pictured, appeared to disintegrate.

Journalist Brandon Rittiman, a friend of one of the passengers, tweeted that the engine hatch ‘came up and ripped off’ and people were ‘jumping up screaming, slamming on the roof, yelling stop’.

Passenger Jazmin Pedraza said there was a ‘thump’ then ‘a burst of flame’ and people were ‘crying in complete panic’.

Frontier Airlines said the Airbus A320 landed safely and no one was injured.