Did a Fart Force Airliner Evacuation?

Image: PHOTO: Man with a clothespin. (photo courtesy of Thinkstock)
Image: PHOTO: Man with a clothespin. (photo courtesy of Thinkstock)
Donald Wood
by Donald Wood
Last updated: 10:47 AM ET, Mon July 17, 2017

A passenger on an American Airlines flight reportedly forced the evacuation of the plane after said person "passed gas" during a safe landing Sunday afternoon.

American Airlines confirmed that an incident involving a strong odor in the cabin of one of its planes occurred, but denied that it was caused by a passenger passing gas.

According to WNCN.com, the aircraft landed at Raleigh-Durham International Airport at around 2:20 p.m. local time when passengers started reporting nausea and headaches due to a stronger odor filling the cabin of the plane.

All of the flight's passengers were removed, and American Airlines employees boarded the aircraft to determine the cause of the smell.

Authorities considered the incident a medical call and directed all questions to Wake County EMS.

[READMORE]READ MORE: Why Do We Get So Gassy on a Plane? Get Ready For Some Science.[/READMORE]

Officials from Raleigh-Durham airport did not identify the flight number, where it was originated or where it was headed. In response to the news reports that a passenger passing gas caused the incident, American Airlines spokesperson Ross Feinstein released a statement to WNCN.com.

"We did have an aircraft from Charlotte to RDU this afternoon, that landed at 2:19 p.m. ET, and arrived the gate at 2:21 p.m. ET, that is currently out of service for an actual mechanical issue - and odor in the cabin," Feinstein said. "But it is not due to 'passed gas' as mentioned."


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