Spirit Airlines has temporarily grounded several Airbus A320 family aircraft following an accidental activation of the fire suppression system at its maintenance hangar in Detroit. The incident occurred on July 4, resulting in foam discharge inside the hangar and spilling onto the apron.
The airline attributed the foam release to nearby lightning. Despite this event, Spirit Airlines stated there was no significant impact on flight operations. "We have engaged a contractor to assist with cleanup efforts, and we thank first responders for their quick response and assistance. There is no impact to our flight operations," said a spokesperson for Spirit Airlines.
Photos and videos shared online depicted at least two aircraft inside and four outside the hangar during the incident. The airline confirmed that three aircraft were removed from service—two from inside the hangar and one from outside. According to ch-aviation records, Spirit Airlines has 14 A320 family aircraft based at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport.