• American Airlines Flight 1665 returned safely to Las Vegas due to engine issues.
• Witnesses reported flames and smoke from the aircraft's engine midair.
• No injuries were reported; all passengers deplaned normally.
• The FAA is investigating the incident.
• The flight was headed for Charlotte, North Carolina.

An American Airlines flight, designated Flight 1665, returned to Las Vegas' Harry Reid International Airport shortly after takeoff due to visible smoke and flames from one of its engines. The Airbus A321 was departing for Charlotte Douglas International Airport when the incident occurred around 8:11 a.m. local time, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and eyewitness reports. Videos circulating online captured the alarming moment in the sky, prompting a swift return to the airport around 8:20 a.m., with no reported injuries among the 153 passengers and six crew members onboard, according to ABC News and CBS News.

The FAA's preliminary investigation indicated a "mechanical issue" with the left engine, and the airline confirmed that an inspection found "no evidence that the engine caught fire." Passengers reported hearing loud noises akin to "booming" or "large fireworks," which contributed to the initially alarming situation. Witness Matthew Villasista described the scene, noting that the noises interrupted their day, which echoed accounts from fellow witness Mark Jackson, who expressed concern for those onboard. "It just looked like it was dropping rapidly," Jackson said, reflecting the tension of the moment, according to India Times and CBS News.

Following the incident, American Airlines lauded the professionalism of the flight crew and the efforts of their team to ensure a quick return to safety. The aircraft was taken out of service for evaluation, further emphasizing the seriousness of the mechanical failure, as confirmed by statements from both the airline and the FAA. The investigation by the FAA is ongoing to determine the exact cause of the problems reported midair, as stated by ABC News and India Times.