American Airlines

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Knock on Cockpit Door Triggers Emergency Landing

Pilots feared trouble, couldn't contact cabin crew, but it was a false alarm

(Newser) - Commercial pilots flying out of Omaha, Nebraska, got quite a scare Monday evening when they heard banging on the door of the cockpit and thought someone might be trying to break in. American Airlines Flight 6569 bound for Los Angeles, operated by regional carrier SkyWest, turned around and made an...

Passenger Jet Slams on Brakes as Cargo Plane Crosses Runway

Wrong turn leads to snafu involving Boston-bound American Airlines flight at LAX

(Newser) - An American Airlines jet aborting takeoff at Los Angeles International Airport narrowly avoided a serious runway incident late Sunday night. As American Airlines Flight 2453 was accelerating for departure to Boston, a cargo plane—AeroLogic Flight 619, fresh from Shanghai—unexpectedly crossed its path on the runway, reports CNN...

Stowaway Found Dead in Jet's Landing Gear After Europe Flight

Body discovered by maintenance after transatlantic flight lands in Charlotte

(Newser) - A grim discovery in Charlotte has sparked an investigation after airline staff found a stowaway dead inside the landing gear compartment of an American Airlines flight that had just arrived from Europe. According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police, the body was discovered by maintenance workers around 9am Sunday while they were...

Airline Ordered to Pay $9.6M to Passenger Who Had Stroke

Lawsuit said American Airlines failed to follow protocols after warning signs

(Newser) - A federal jury has ordered American Airlines to pay $9.6 million to a California man who suffered a stroke on a 2021 transatlantic flight after the crew allegedly shrugged off warning signs. Jesus Plasencia, a 67-year-old chef, had just boarded a Miami-to-Madrid flight with his wife when he...

Airlines, Army, FAA Face First Suit Over DC Collision

Victim's family says safety lapses led to January crash that killed 67

(Newser) - The family of Casey Crafton, who was killed in a midair collision near Reagan National Airport in January, has sued American Airlines, its affiliate PSA Airlines, the Army, and the FAA. The case, filed Wednesday in federal court in Washington, accuses all of failing to follow safety protocols that...

After Midair Outburst, Out Came the Duct Tape

American Airlines passenger faces charges after alleged midflight assault on crew

(Newser) - An American Airlines flight from the Dominican Republic's Punta Cana to Las Vegas took a sharp turn into chaos when a passenger allegedly attacked a flight attendant and had to be subdued with duct tape and zip ties. According to the US Attorney's Office in Nevada , Ketty...

Bird Strikes Force Back San Francisco-Bound Plane

American Airlines flight returned to Philadelphia after multiple bird strikes, FAA says

(Newser) - A San Francisco-bound American Airlines flight was forced to turn back to Philadelphia International Airport after suffering multiple bird strikes soon after takeoff, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Flight 2035, an Airbus A321, left Philadelphia at 6:57am and circled back roughly half an hour later, landing safely...

Seconds From Landing in DC, Pilot Finds Runway Impeded

FAA probes latest in a string of close calls at Reagan National Airport

(Newser) - The FAA is investigating a near miss at Reagan National Airport on Monday. American Airlines Flight 4528, which departed from Detroit and was operated by Republic Airways, was descending around 7am when the pilot interrupted the approach with an urgent query, per CNN : "Tower, is there a vehicle...

Smoke From Passenger's Device Forces Jet to Divert

American Airlines flight makes emergency landing in DC

(Newser) - An American Airlines jet made an emergency landing at Dulles airport in DC after smoke started coming from a passenger's device mid-flight, reports Fox News . The incident happened Saturday morning aboard a flight from Philadelphia to Phoenix, according to the airline, which says "the device was quickly contained...

Passengers Make Scary Exit on Denver Runway
Passengers Make Scary
Exit on Denver Runway
video
Jul 28, 2025 6:51 AM CDT

Passengers Make Scary Exit on Denver Runway

Landing gear snafu causes small fire as American Airlines jet was about to take off

(Newser) - An American Airlines flight from Denver to Miami never got off the ground over the weekend—and its passengers had to make an emergency exit on the runway amid smoke. More than 170 people were aboard Flight 3023 at Denver International Airport on Saturday, and none were seriously injured, reports...

Flight Attendant Who Recorded Girls in Plane Bathrooms Sentenced

Estes Carter Thompson III sentenced to 18.5 years behind bars

(Newser) - A flight attendant accused of taping his cellphone to the lid of an airplane toilet to secretly film young girls was sentenced to just under 20 years in prison Wednesday, the AP reports. Former American Airlines flight attendant Estes Carter Thompson III received a sentence of 18.5 years, followed...

Snooping Passenger Misinterprets Text as Threat

American flight returned to Puerto Rico

(Newser) - An American Airlines passenger who wasn't exactly minding their own business forced an unexpected return to Puerto Rico on Friday morning. The flight from San Juan to Dallas was forced to turn around shortly after takeoff after a passenger told a flight attendant there was a possible security...

Man Who Sneaked Onto Philly Flight Must Pay $59,143

That was the cost of canceling the flight, per American

(Newser) - A Philadelphia man who sneaked onto an American Airlines flight in June 2024 was on Tuesday ordered to pay $59,143 in restitution—a sum equal to what canceling the flight cost the airline. A press release from the US Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, states that Jonathan...

5 Hospitalized After Flight Hits 'Unexpected Turbulence'
'Pure Chaos' as
Turbulence Injures 5
Jun 24, 2025 12:26 PM CDT

'Pure Chaos' as Turbulence Injures 5

Passengers say American Airlines plane suddenly dropped just after in-flight service began

(Newser) - Five people were hospitalized Sunday night after an American Airlines flight from Miami to Raleigh-Durham International Airport encountered what the airline says was "unexpected turbulence." An airline spokesperson tells USA Today that three flight attendants and two passengers were taken to a hospital for observation and later released....

Flier Called for Help, Then Attacked: Feds

Flight diverted after man allegedly tried to drag flight attendant by the collar

(Newser) - A routine flight turned chaotic when a Kansas man allegedly attacked a flight attendant midair, forcing an emergency landing and prompting federal charges. Authorities are now piecing together what led to the onboard disturbance that stunned passengers and crew on Tuesday night. Prosecutors allege that Julius Jordan Priester, 24,...

Suit: American Airlines Turned 'Blind Eye' to Sex Assault

Airline allegedly seated California woman next to sexual abuser, ignored her complaint

(Newser) - A woman is suing American Airlines, alleging she was sexually assaulted midflight by a man who'd been reported to the airline for inappropriately touching. Barbara Morgan of California says the airline assigned her a middle seat next to Cherian Abraham of Texas on a red-eye flight from San Francisco...

Lawyer: Airline's Failures Led to Passenger's Death

Suit says 62-year-old man experiencing medical crisis was last one off plane

(Newser) - A 62-year-old Kentucky man experiencing a medical crisis died after he was the last passenger to get off a flight he should never have been allowed to board, lawyers for his family say.
  • According to a lawsuit filed against American Airlines on Tuesday, John William Cannon fainted as he was
...

American Finally Caves, Will Give You Free WiFi

Free WiFi is coming in 2026 to most passengers who sign up for airline's free AAdvantage program

(Newser) - Next year will feel a lot more connected for passengers on American Airlines. Starting in 2026, flights on AA will now include WiFi for people who sign up for its free AAdvantage loyalty program, with the complimentary access provided by AT&T, reports USA Today . Currently, American Airlines passengers had...

Lawmakers Feel Wing Clip Another Plane at DC Airport

No one is hurt in accident at site of fatal January collision

(Newser) - The wing of one regional jet clipped another Thursday on a taxiway at Reagan National Airport, the site of a fatal collision in January involving a similar plane and a military helicopter. No injuries were reported in the Thursday bump. At least a half-dozen members of Congress were on one...

'Disruptive' Flier Forces Flight to Turn Back After 4 Hours

Passengers say 'crazy man' was unhappy about his meal on NYC-Milan flight

(Newser) - An American Airlines flight from New York City's JFK Airport made it almost halfway to Milan on Monday night before it was forced to turn back. Passengers say they were initially told that Flight 198 was turning back after four hours because of a technical problem, but it was...

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