NEED TO KNOW
- Multiple people were hospitalized with minor injuries after inhaling an “unknown substance from an aircraft” at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina on June 27
- The Mecklenburg Emergency Medical Services Agency confirmed to PEOPLE that seven airline and airport employees were treated for “inhalation symptoms”
- “The aircraft was taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance team,” American Airlines said in a statement
Multiple people were hospitalized with “inhalation symptoms” following an “odor” at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina.
On Friday, June 27, several airline and airport employees were transported to a local hospital for “inhalation symptoms of an unknown substance from an aircraft,” the Mecklenburg Emergency Medical Services Agency, also known as Medic, confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE.
All seven individuals had “minor injuries” and are in stable condition, per the health organization.
When contacted for comment on Saturday, June 28, a spokesperson for the airport directed PEOPLE to American Airlines. A representative for the airline confirmed that “an odor was reported” on flight 2055 “prior to customers boarding” on June 27.
“Crew members received medical attention on site and were transported to a nearby hospital where they were evaluated and released,” the spokesperson continued. “The aircraft was taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance team.”
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Those hospitalized included six crew members and a gate agent, according to CBS affiliate WBTV, the Charlotte Observer and CW affiliate WCCB.
The discovery of the smell took place at around 9 p.m. local time, WCCB reported. Medic told the outlet there was a possible odor of jet fuel on an aircraft, with no readings for “anything else.”
Flight 2055 to Los Angeles, which was set to take place on an Airbus A321, was “canceled,” according to the American Airlines website.
The flight cancelation came amid the airline experiencing a technology issue for some of its systems, which contributed to additional delays at the airport on June 27, NBC affiliate WCNC reported.
More than 731 flights were delayed and 132 were canceled at the airport — where American operates the most flights — as of 10:35 p.m. local time, according to WCNC.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also issued a ground stop from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., which the airline confirmed it requested due to storms that also took place that day, per the outlet.
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