An Illinois mother on board an American Airlines aircraft despatched a harrowing message to her children fearing for her life as the cabin “smelled like fire” – before she was compelled to “jump from the wing” following an emergency touchdown.

Tessa Springer was on board Saturday’s early morning flight out of St. Louis, Missouri, with her husband, Mark Springer, for a work journey – but the journey was mired in issues before the aircraft even left the floor. 

Passengers heard a “horrible noise” coming from the back of the CRJ-900 aircraft as pilots on the Philadelphia-bound flight tried to fireplace up the engines – before the captain said they “can’t get it started,” Mark Springer instructed KMOV.

Tessa Springer instructed her children she ‘loved them’ before the aircraft she was on made an emergency touchdown. Mark Springer/Facebook

The jet finally took off for Philadelphia two hours later – but just quarter-hour into the flight, the aircraft “felt like it hit … like a car when you slam on the brakes,” according to Mark Springer.

“Maybe a minute later, the plane just kind of goes boom and drops,” he added.

“All of the oxygen masks fall and we just kind of looked at each other like ‘Is this serious? Is this real.’”

The cabin turned hazy and the mother, fearing for her life, messaged her youngsters, “Problem on our plane, love you guys,” according to screenshots she shared on Facebook.

“I was like, ‘We’re going to die.’”

One individual in the household group chat, recognized only as ES, messaged back, “Wdym problem on the plane? Where are you flying again? What’s the problem on the plane?”

The aircraft turned back just quarter-hour into the flight before touchdown back at St. Louis airport. Tessa Springer/Facebook

Tessa Springer, who lives in Waterloo, said the aircraft “smelled like fire” and the moments before the emergency touchdown “felt like the last minutes of [her] life.” 

“Mark held me and told me he loved me,” she wrote on Facebook. 

Passengers were instructed to launch their seatbelts, “get out” and “leave belongings” by panicked cabin crew.

Oxygen masks dropped before the emergency touchdown.

Springer later revealed the aircraft landed safely – but she had to evacuate via one of its wings. 

“Mark and I got diverted to separate exits,” she wrote on Facebook. “A gracious traveler helped me jump from the wing. Then we all ran into an open field and waited for transportation back to the terminal.” 

American Airlines confirmed the aircraft, operated by PSA Airlines, landed safely after an “odor” was reported on board.

“The aircraft landed safely at [St Louis] and was taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance team,” a spokesperson instructed KSDK.

“We apologize to our customers for their experience and thank our team members for their professionalism.”

Passengers acquired $12 meals vouchers as a type of compensation – but fellow passenger, Olivia Clancy, said the paltry supply felt “like a slap in the face.”