There
have been myriad reasons why planes have had to make an emergency landing.
This
might be a first.
An
American Airlines flight from Los Angeles to New York was diverted to Phoenix
after passengers spotted
lice in a woman’s hair.
Or
so one passenger says.
Ethan
Judelson posted a video to TikTok in which he says that the buzz from fellow
passengers is that lice was the reason why the plane had to be diverted. American
did not comment. The video has been seen by more than 1.2 million people.
"I
look around, no one's on the ground, no one's freaking out. I'm like, it can't
be that dire," he said. "But we land, and as soon as we land, this
woman across the aisle from me shoots up and rushes to the front of the
plane."
Speaking
to PEOPLE magazine about a month after the incident, Judelson at first thought
the woman was just an impatient traveler rushing to get off the plane.
"It
just seemed like one of those people who, as soon as the seatbelt sign goes
off, gets up and tries to be the first to their bag," he recalls. "So
the girl next to me ... we were both like, 'Why is she so rushed to get off?
We're all getting off together, calm down.' "
But
the scuttlebutt about the lice tells a different story.
American
would only say in a statement "On June 15, American Airlines flight 2201
with service from Los Angeles (LAX) to New York (JFK) diverted to Phoenix (PHX)
due to the medical needs of a customer."
"Right
when we land in Phoenix we all get the email saying, 'Here's your voucher for
the hotel.' And we're like, 'Hotel, are we staying here?' " says Judelson,
adding that American gave him $12 of spending money.
In
the past, there have been far
more dangers reasons why planes have made emergency landings.
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