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A Spirit Airlines Airbus A320 operating as flight NK2298 from Philadelphia to San Juan attracted attention after flight-tracking data indicated it flew near Hurricane Erin on August 18. The aircraft appeared on radar maps to cross close to the Category 4 storm, leading to questions about airline procedures and passenger safety.
Despite concerns prompted by the radar images, the flight landed safely in San Juan without incident. Spirit Airlines stated that the service operated under standard procedures and with air traffic control guidance. The company said, “Safety is always our top priority. Our pilots followed procedures and Air Traffic Control (ATC) instructions while en route to San Juan (SJU). Our Operations Control Center closely tracks weather systems and works with our pilots and ATC to determine flight paths that safely navigate around or above adverse weather conditions.”
The jet, an Airbus A320neo registered N970NK, departed Philadelphia at 13:34 local time and was scheduled to land in San Juan at 17:02. According to Flightradar24, it climbed to 37,000 feet as it approached the Caribbean. At this altitude, it passed near Hurricane Erin, which was a Category 4 storm with winds exceeding 130 miles per hour at the time.
