A Bombardier CRJ900, operating a regional flight under the American Airlines brand, safely landed at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) on Monday following an emergency alert and reports from the crew of a possible odor in the cabin. Upon exiting the runway, passengers were evacuated onto the taxiway.
The incident occurred just before 10:00 a.m. during peak airport operating hours, though it did not appear to disrupt other incoming or outgoing flights.
Details of the Incident:
Local Charlotte ABC affiliate WSOC was the first to report on the incident, suggesting that the flight has since been canceled; however, Simple Flying has not independently confirmed this development. The aircraft, registered as N633NN, is operated by PSA Airlines, a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Airlines under the American Eagle brand, operating as OH5304.
According to FlightAware data, the flight was scheduled to depart for Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) and left gate E14A on time at 09:06 a.m. The regional jet taxied to Runway 36C and took off around 09:27 a.m., heading north before leveling off at 4,800 feet altitude.
After a brief ascent, the plane turned west, maintaining its altitude and speed before eventually turning southwest. Approximately seven minutes into the flight, it reversed course toward CLT, flying at a consistent altitude before descending while heading away from the airport. About 18 minutes after takeoff, it made a U-turn to align with its final approach, ultimately landing safely on Runway 36R at 09:51 a.m. – 24 minutes after departure.
Evacuation Procedures:
The exact timing of the emergency alert during the flight is unclear. Images from WSOC’s Chopper 9 depict the aircraft on the adjacent taxiway with its flaps extended. Emergency responders were dispatched as per standard protocol.
Though the number of passengers onboard is unknown, they were observed standing beside the aircraft and later boarding a bus to return to the terminal.
American Airlines did not confirm any injuries among passengers, though fortunately, no one required hospitalization.