St. Louis Family Recounts Midair Scare During Frontier Airlines Flight

Plane diverted to Nashville after engine trouble, leaving passengers fearing the worst

Apr. 6, 2026 at 4:22am

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A St. Louis family's vacation flight to Punta Cana turned into a midair emergency when their Frontier Airlines plane experienced engine trouble and had to make an unexpected landing in Nashville. Passengers described fear and uncertainty as the pilots diverted the aircraft, with some seeing flames coming from an engine. The family eventually made it to their destination after a 10-hour delay, grateful to the crew for landing the plane safely.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the potential risks and anxieties passengers can face during in-flight emergencies, even on routine vacation flights. It also raises questions about airline safety protocols and how carriers communicate with passengers during unexpected disruptions.

The details

About 80 minutes into the nonstop flight from St. Louis to Punta Cana, passenger Megan Kim said she knew something was wrong when one of the engines 'rolled back.' Cockpit recordings captured the pilots diverting the plane to Nashville International Airport, where they safely landed the aircraft on the runway. The family, which included Kim's husband, two children, and in-laws, waited 10 hours for a backup plane before finally continuing on to their destination.

  • The incident occurred on Monday, April 6, 2026, during a Frontier Airlines flight from St. Louis to Punta Cana.
  • The plane made an emergency landing at Nashville International Airport.

The players

Megan Kim

A passenger on the Frontier Airlines flight who was traveling with her family to Punta Cana to celebrate her in-laws' 50th wedding anniversary.

Frontier Airlines

The airline operating the flight from St. Louis to Punta Cana that experienced engine trouble and had to make an emergency landing in Nashville.

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What they’re saying

“I panicked. I stopped the flight attendant and I said, 'Are we going to die?' No explanations. All we got was when the pilot came on saying that one of the engines had rolled back.”

— Megan Kim, Passenger

“I thought, at least, we're all together. We're going down, we're all going down together.”

— Megan Kim, Passenger

What’s next

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the engine trouble that led to the emergency landing.

The takeaway

This incident serves as a sobering reminder of the potential risks and anxieties passengers can face during in-flight emergencies, even on routine vacation flights. It highlights the importance of clear communication from airlines and the crucial role of pilots and flight crews in ensuring passenger safety during unexpected disruptions.