LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — For the first time, we’re learning what happened inside a Frontier Airlines cockpit before a fiery landing at Harry Reid International Airport earlier this month.

On October 5, Frontier Flight 1325 was flying from San Diego to Las Vegas. Frontier Airlines officials say the pilots detected smoke and declared an emergency.

Owen Denning, NTSB

On Monday, the National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report.

The report states that the cabin crew informed the cockpit of an odor in the forward section of the airplane that was “a chemical odor difficult to identify” and they could not tell where it was coming from.

Shortly thereafter, the captain and first officer detected an odor in the cockpit that became “increasingly pungent and evolved to smell of burning rubber and/or petroleum products such as plastics.” .

Although no smoke was visible in the cockpit or cabin, the first officer declared an emergency and requested permission to land at Harry Reid International Airport.

As the pilot and first officer went through the quick reference manual, they noticed that “aircraft systems began to degrade,” which included autopilot and autothrottle. Radios were also active only on the captain’s side, and the crew “experienced some difficulty transmitting to air traffic control.”

CLOCK: Passengers recall Frontier plane crash landing at Harry Reid International Airport

A border plane “hard landed” at Harry Reid Airport, causing a fire, officials said

The captain decided to land the airplane using external visual references during the approach, while the first officer called in information on speeds, altitudes, and configuration.

As the plane was landing, the report states the captain said the plane “did not have automatic brakes and did not feel skid.”

When the plane landed, witnesses heard “two loud bangs in quick succession as the tires exploded about three seconds after touchdown. Then there was a big smoke screen behind them and fire around the tires.” The report states that the flames “appeared to die out shortly before the plane came to a stop.”

According to NTSB officials, data messages retrieved from the Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitor system indicated that a malfunction had been detected in a fan that cools the cockpit computers.

Since the pilots did not know where the smell was coming from, they shut down non-essential systems and began using a backup fuel system. That made it like harder landing with stronger brakingwhich resulted in more smoke and fire from the brakes.

Owen Denning, NTSB

Following the incident, airline officials said all 190 passengers and seven crew members were safely evacuated and no injuries were reported.

At least three passengers I am now suing Frontieralleging that the airline was negligent and that Frontier failed to adequately inspect, maintain, repair and operate the aircraft in a reasonable manner.

Frontier Airlines officials previously told Channel 13 they do not comment on pending litigation.