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On August 16 2025 at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, what began as a routine departure for Frontier Airlines flight F93134 bound for LaGuardia Airport in New York turned into a dramatic ground-incident. The aircraft — an Airbus A320‑251N (registration N365FR) — had completed a prior leg from Philadelphia and was being prepped anew when a ground-service air-conditioning hose was connected to its engine during turn-around. Immediately, the suction from the engine’s CFM LEAP‑1A26 intake pulled the hose inside and shredded it within seconds. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. However, the damage forced the aircraft out of service and caused roughly nine hours of delays for the stranded passengers.
Frontier swiftly arranged a replacement aircraft, but the incident highlights how even ground-equipment such as hoses pose serious foreign object damage (FOD) risk when placed too close to powerful jet engines. The airline grounded the aircraft pending inspection in line with regulatory safety protocols, underscoring that while delays are frustrating, ensuring airworthiness takes priority over schedule adherence.
