Incident Overview
Smoke from a passenger’s laptop prompted the emergency evacuation of an American Airlines flight bound for Miami on July 12, officials confirmed. The crew reported smoke in the cabin as the plane was boarding at the gate, leading to a swift response.
Evacuation Details
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the incident occurred during the boarding process of the Airbus A321. “The bag was removed by our crew members and all passengers exited the aircraft,” the airline stated. Passengers used emergency slides to evacuate the plane, resulting in one individual being transported to the hospital for injuries sustained during the exit. Two other passengers reported minor injuries, as per the San Francisco Fire Department.
Airline’s Response
“We thank our crew members for their professionalism and apologize to our customers for the inconvenience,” American Airlines added. The flight, originally scheduled to depart San Francisco at 12:15 p.m. for Miami, took off later that day following the resolution of the issue. The FAA will be investigating the incident, said spokesperson Steve Kulm.
Close call at Tampa International Airport
In a separate incident on July 10, an American Airlines flight narrowly avoided a major accident at Tampa International Airport. One of the plane’s tires suffered a blowout during takeoff, causing smoke and flames to be visible. Emergency services promptly surrounded the plane as the pilot aborted the takeoff.
The aircraft was carrying 174 passengers and six crew members at the time. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and all passengers safely disembarked and were transported back to the terminal.
Centenarian mistaken for infant
In a lighter incident, American Airlines mistakenly registered a 101-year-old woman named Patricia as an infant due to a system error. The airline’s system defaulted her birth year to 2022, leading to the amusing mix-up. “The same thing happened last year, and they were also expecting a child and not me,” Patricia recounted. The mix-up, caused by the system’s inability to process a 100-plus year age, resulted in an unexpected and humorous situation for both staff and the centenarian.
These incidents highlight the varying challenges and unusual occurrences faced by airlines, from serious safety concerns to quirky technical glitches.