American Eagle Flight Returns to St. Louis After Odor and Smoke in Cabin; Passengers Evacuate on the Runway
St. Louis is an independent city in Missouri. On Saturday, Oct. 17, American Eagle flight AA5089 (operated by PSA Airlines for American Airlines) returned to St. Louis Lambert International Airport shortly after takeoff because of an odor and smoke in the cabin, and passengers were evacuated onto the runway.
The Bombardier CRJ900 (registration N574NN, 11 years old, seating up to 76) was bound from St. Louis to Philadelphia. The morning's 6 a.m. departure had already been delayed more than two hours after the pilots reported a starter fault on one engine — several passengers described a loud buzzing and grinding noise from the tail — and the aircraft did not take off until 8:13 a.m. Soon after departure, the crew reported an odor and smoke in the cabin, oxygen masks deployed, and the plane turned back.
Passenger Olivia Clancy told KSDK 5 that the aircraft seemed to lack thrust and struggle to hold altitude shortly after takeoff; her video shows flight attendants shouting for passengers to evacuate quickly and run clear of the aircraft. The number of people aboard is not yet known, and American has not explained the cause of the odor or why the masks deployed. Flight-tracking data show the aircraft remained in St. Louis for inspection at publication time and is out of service.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：圣路易斯兰伯特国际机场（资料图）。照片：Bohao Zhao／Wikimedia Commons（CC BY 3.0）。St. Louis Lambert International Airport (file photo). Photo: Bohao Zhao / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0).
