What started as a routine Sunday flight from Orlando to Phoenix turned into a mid-air mystery after passengers and crew were overwhelmed by a strange odor that forced the plane to divert to Houston.
According to the FAA, American Airlines Flight 2118 suddenly changed course after fumes filled the cabin and flight deck, sending four crew members and one passenger to the hospital as a precaution.
“The plane landed safely and taxied to the gate under its own power,” American Airlines said in a statement, thanking its crew for their calm response while apologizing to travelers for the disruption.
The flight, which had left Orlando International Airport, touched down at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, where emergency crews rushed aboard. Officials say no smoke was detected, but several people reported feeling sick.
After a brief delay, passengers boarded a replacement plane and eventually made it to Phoenix around 7:10 p.m.
The cause of the odor remains under investigation, but this isn’t the first time American Airlines has faced an airborne smell scare. Back in June, several people were hospitalized after inhaling a mysterious odor at Charlotte Douglas International Airport — and in 2019, an entire family was kicked off a flight over body-odor complaints that spiraled into chaos.
No word yet on what exactly caused Sunday’s mid-air mystery, but for now, the FAA says it’s digging into the case.
Source: The New York Post
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