Foam floods Spirit Airlines DTW airport hangar, covers passenger jets: pictures

4th of July celebrations took an unexpected turn for Spirit Airlines when the fire suppression system in its maintenance hangar at Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) was accidentally activated, causing firefighting foam to flood the facility and cover aircraft parked there. 

The incident happened at approximately 17:00 local time on July 4, 2025. In a statement, the airline confirmed that the system may have been activated by a nearby lightning strike. 

There was no fire at the time of the incident. However, the hangar doors were open, which caused the foam to spill outside and reach more parked aircraft. 

Video footage and images of the incident were shared on social media, showing how the flooding covered the 126,840-square foot hangar floor and its surroundings. The parked aircraft can be seen covered in foam. 

On July 4, 2025, the fire suppression system at #SpiritAirlines’ maintenance hangar at #Detroit Metro Airport (#DTW) was accidentally triggered.The system released a massive amount of foam,flooding the 126,000-square-foot hangar…©mykemusser/YouTube#Spirit #foam #aviation pic.twitter.com/vYXaPjSl3a— FlightMode (@FlightModeblog) July 6, 2025

“Two aircraft parked inside the facility and one aircraft parked outside the facility were removed from service for inspection by our maintenance team,” a spokesperson for Spirit Airlines said in the statement. 

Those jets are going to require significant inspections…that foam is corrosive & nothing you want to trifle with.Spirit has been having a rough few years. https://t.co/2AXI0lqbxe pic.twitter.com/sSZqzxCtYZ— KC-10 Driver B-737 Wrangler (@MCCCANM) July 5, 2025

All impacted aircraft will receive inspections and cleaning to evaluate foam exposure. Initial estimates indicate that the damage could total millions of dollars, based on the level of corrosion and contamination. 

“We have engaged a contractor to assist with cleanup efforts, and we thank first responders for their quick response and assistance,” the airline said. 

The airline has also confirmed that no one was injured as a result of the incident, and its flight operations will continue without disruption. 

Spirit Airlines’ maintenance hangar, office, and shop space was designed and supplied by Butler Heavy Structures, a company providing commercial and industrial metal building systems.  

According to Butler Heavy Structures official website, the hangar bay can hold up to three A321s at a time with maintenance and support buildings on three sides. The hangar door measures 318 feet wide and 44 feet high, featuring four free-floating rolling doors. The post Foam floods Spirit Airlines DTW airport hangar, covers passenger jets: pictures appeared first on AeroTime.

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