An American Airlines plane was diverted and hospitalized after a strange smell was reported
Passengers take off from American Airlines after the landing gear is removed from the runway at Denver International Airport. (Credit: Instagram / @highlymigrfishing)
Five people on board an American Airlines flight were hospitalized after the flight was diverted due to an odor on the flight deck and cabin, reports said.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said, “American Airlines Flight 2118 was safely grounded at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston on Sunday, November 23, after a local crew reported down the flight deck and cabin.”
“The Airbus A321 departed from Orlando International Airport and headed to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport,” the FAA added.
Four members of the crew and one passenger were taken to the hospital for treatment, reported the Dallas-News Dallas-Fort, which is the Houston Fire Department.
An American Airlines Jet is returning to Los Angeles after passengers reported feeling sick
Airline Airlines Airbus A321 Airplane at Los Angeles International Airport on Oct 17, 2025, Los Angeles, Calif. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images/Getty Images)
It was not immediately clear what the smell was.
“I’ll have transportation here outside the airport this time,” a crew member was heard saying when the plane was transferred to Texas, according to Khou. “Flight alert. I’ll need about 4 Transport units.”
| It’s teasing | Security | – Last | Answer | change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| – Say | American Airlines Group Inc. | 13.10 | +0.23 |
+ 1.79% |
Other passengers on board the flight were transferred to a separate flight to continue on to Phoenix.
“On November 23, Averline Airlines Flight 2118 landed safely and was taxied to Houston (iah) following reports of an odor. “We thank our crew members for their professionalism and apologize to our customers for their experience.”
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An American Airlines Airbus A321 takes off from Los Angeles International Airport en route to Orlando on March 30, 2025, in Los Angeles, Calif. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images/Getty Images)
The FAA did not immediately respond Tuesday to a request for comment from Fox Business.
In October, another American Airlines plane was turned around immediately after takeoff from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) “due to reports of an odor in the cabin,” the airline said.
The pilots in that incident also reported to traffic control that they fingered and tasted something prompting them to put on oxyt masks in the cockpit, WABC-TV reported.
An American passenger jet is parked at the gate at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Aug. AUG. 24, 2025, in Arlington, VA. (Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images/Getty Images)
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The plane landed safely, and seven passengers were checked, but none were taken to a medical facility for further treatment, Wabc said.
FOX Business’ Pilar Ariasis contributed to this report.
