MIDAIR SCARE

Panic Aboard American Airlines Flight as ‘Fumes’ Fill Cabin Forcing U-Turn

The aircraft returned to LAX after passengers said they felt unwell.

An American Airlines flight from Los Angeles to New York was forced to return to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Tuesday evening after passengers and crew reported mysterious fumes that made several people feel sick. Flight 274 took off from LAX just before 5 p.m. local time and was bound for John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Shortly after takeoff, several passengers complained they felt unwell prompting the pilots to turn the aircraft around. The pilots told air traffic control they also smelled and tasted something unusual and pulled on their oxygen masks, WABC-TV reported. The plane landed safely back at LAX, where seven passengers were evaluated by emergency crews. No one required hospitalization, authorities said. Flight-tracking data from FlightRadar24 showed the jet circling back before landing. American Airlines confirmed the incident, saying the plane “returned to LAX shortly after takeoff due to reports of an odor in the cabin.” The airline said the aircraft was removed from service for inspection and apologized for the “inconvenience” to passengers.

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Isabel van BrugenFreelance Writer

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