Seven individuals were hospitalized on the night of Friday, June 27, after an unidentified odor was detected inside an American Airlines aircraft at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina. The incident, which occurred before passengers boarded Flight 2055 bound for Los Angeles, caused respiratory symptoms in six crew members and one gate agent. They were initially treated at the terminal and later transported to local medical facilities.
The aircraft, an Airbus A321, was taken out of service for a technical inspection by the airline’s maintenance team. According to Mecklenburg EMS (Medic), the county’s emergency response agency, the affected individuals showed signs of inhalation following exposure to an unknown substance inside the cabin. No passengers were onboard at the time of the incident.
According to People, the episode occurred around 9:00 p.m. and prompted a swift response from medical teams. Initial reports suggested the odor could be linked to jet fuel, although sensors used at the scene did not detect dangerous levels of any toxic substances.
Local station WCNC Charlotte reported that no additional harmful vapors or toxic compounds were found inside the plane. As a precaution, the aircraft was removed from operation and underwent a thorough inspection. WSOC-TV also noted that airport fire crews responded to the scene, though no major emergency was declared and no evacuations were necessary at the terminal.
Flight 2055 was officially canceled before it began taxiing or takeoff procedures, according to aviation tracker FlightAware. American Airlines confirmed that the odor was reported before boarding began and said the affected employees received immediate medical attention. However, the airline did not disclose details about the substance involved or preliminary inspection findings.
As of the morning of Saturday, June 28, neither the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) nor American Airlines had issued an official report with definitive conclusions. It was also unclear whether other flights scheduled that day were affected by the incident.
The event took place amid broader operational disruptions at Charlotte airport. WCNC reported that the FAA had approved a temporary ground stop between 6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. at the request of American Airlines due to severe thunderstorms in the area. Additionally, the airline was dealing with internal technical issues affecting dispatch and scheduling systems, contributing to a chaotic day: by 10:35 p.m., more than 730 flights had been delayed and 132 canceled.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport is American Airlines’ second-largest hub in the United States and one of the busiest airports on the East Coast, serving over 50 million passengers in 2024. The airline operates nearly 80% of the flights from the terminal.
WSOC-TV reported that the seven affected workers were discharged after receiving treatment and observation, with no further complications. No passengers were exposed, as boarding had not begun at the time of the incident.
Authorities stated that there was no need to activate hazardous materials response protocols, and no residual risk was identified for airport staff or travelers. As of now, neither the FAA nor American Airlines has announced changes to safety procedures related to the event. It also remains unclear whether the affected aircraft will return to service following inspection.
Although incidents of this nature are rare, experts recommend that any crew member experiencing respiratory symptoms after exposure to unknown substances receive immediate medical attention. Follow-up technical inspections typically include tests of the ventilation system, checks for emissions from the auxiliary power unit (APU), and analysis of hydraulic or cleaning systems.
