MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A flight bound for Barbados was forced to return to Miami International Airport Wednesday night due to fumes inside the cabin.
American Airlines said the fumes may have been caused by something in a passenger’s bag.
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According to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, fire crews responded to the incident just before 9 p.m.
“Once the plane landed, units proceeded to deplane the aircraft with 173 passengers on board,” MDFR said in a statement. “HazMat units performed a hazard assessment due to reports of a strong chemical smell inside the plane.”
Firefighters evaluated the patients at the airport and transported five to a local hospital.
Everyone else was bussed to the terminal.
American Airlines released the following statement after the incident:
“American Airlines flight 338 with service from Miami (MIA) to Barbados (BGI) returned to MIA this evening due to a chemical odor in the cabin caused by the contents of a customer’s carry on luggage. The aircraft landed safely and without incident, and customers deplaned normally. All customers were offered hotel accommodations and the flight is now scheduled to redepart tomorrow at 9 a.m.”