Dearborn Heights resident Tara Nickell holds metal pieces that fell from an airplane over her house in the 5600 block of Polk on Sept. 18.
By ZEINAB NAJM
Times-Herald Newspapers
HEIGHTS — Dearborn Heights residents were in for a surprise when they found metal pieces from an airplane hitting their houses on Sept. 18.
Tara Nickell said her family heard a noise on the side of the roof and driveway about 7:10 p.m. When they went outside, they found pieces of metal.
“We thought it was squirrels walking on the roof,” she said. “After we found the metal pieces we were surprised.”
Tara’s daughter Ryann, 12, was excited to find the pieces of metal, and even took some into school to show her classmates.
The Nickells found over 10 pieces in their backyard.
Dearborn Heights police were called to the block where a report was filed. The Federal Aviation Administration office in Detroit responded to the neighborhood and also took a report.
According to the FAA, and investigation is being completed regarding engine failure for a Spirit Airlines flight from Detroit to Atlanta.
A passenger on the plane told the Detroit Free Press that the plane was about 5,000 feet in the air when a large bang was heard and the pane began to shake. Also, the passenger said the right engine caught fire causing it to lose metal.
The pilot returned to Detroit Metropolitan Airport without incident and passengers were put on a different plane and given vouchers.
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at [email protected].)