An American Airlines flight travelling from Rome to Philadelphia was forced to divert to Dublin after an unidentified odour was reported on board and several crew members suddenly became unwell.
American Airlines flight AA719 was operating from Rome Fiumicino to Philadelphia on Saturday, July 25, when the pilots abandoned the transatlantic crossing and turned towards Ireland.
The service was being operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (N840AN), which departed Rome at approximately 1240hrs local time. The aircraft was carrying more than 280 passengers, along with its pilots and cabin crew, on the scheduled eight-and-a-half-hour journey to Philadelphia.
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Crew Reported Feeling Dizzy and Ill
Flight-tracking information showed the Dreamliner climbing to approximately 38,000–39,000ft and continuing across France before beginning the Atlantic crossing.
Around three to four hours into the flight, the pilots reportedly informed air traffic control that a medical situation had developed onboard. The aircraft subsequently turned towards Dublin, where emergency medical assistance was requested for its arrival.
Initial reports claimed that six of the nine flight attendants working onboard had begun experiencing dizziness or feeling unwell. American Airlines has not publicly confirmed the precise number of crew members affected, but has confirmed that flight attendants required medical assessment following a “reported odour onboard”.
There has been no suggestion that any of the flight attendants became completely incapacitated. However, with a significant proportion of the crew reportedly suffering from symptoms simultaneously, continuing for several more hours across the Atlantic would have posed serious operational and safety concerns.
The pilots therefore decided to divert to Dublin, one of the closest suitable airports capable of handling a fully loaded Boeing 787.
Paramedics Met the Aircraft
Flight AA719 landed safely on Dublin Airport’s Runway 28L approximately six hours after leaving Rome. Paramedics were waiting to meet the aircraft and assess those who had become unwell.
According to American Airlines, the affected flight attendants and one passenger were evaluated before being released. There have been no reports of anyone requiring prolonged hospital treatment.
The airline said: “American Airlines flight 719, with service from Rome to Philadelphia, diverted to Dublin due to a reported odour onboard.”
It added that the aircraft had landed safely and was met by paramedics “out of an abundance of caution”.
The flight did not immediately continue to Philadelphia. Reports indicated that American Airlines did not have a replacement crew available in Dublin, and that the aircraft also needed to be examined to determine the source of the odour.
Passengers were provided with overnight hotel accommodation and rebooked onto alternative travel. American thanked customers for their understanding and praised the professionalism of the crew members involved.
Unknown Cause
The exact cause of the incident has not been publicly established.
American Airlines has only confirmed that an odour was reported inside the aircraft. It has not identified the source of the smell or confirmed that it was directly responsible for the crew’s symptoms.
Possible sources of an unusual aircraft odour can include electrical equipment, air-conditioning components, galley appliances, cleaning chemicals or substances spilt inside the cabin. However, there is currently no evidence indicating which, if any, of these possibilities was involved in the AA719 incident.
The Boeing 787 also differs from most commercial aircraft because it has a “more-electric” design and does not use a traditional pneumatic system to supply its cabin air-conditioning. Instead, the Dreamliner’s cabin air system is electrically powered. This means the commonly cited possibility of engine oil entering the cabin through a conventional engine bleed-air system is less straightforward on the 787. However, it does not rule out other air-conditioning, electrical or cabin-related odours.
Until the aircraft has been inspected and American Airlines releases further information, any attempt to link the crew members’ symptoms to a particular substance or mechanical fault remains speculation.
The news comes just days after an American Airlines flight from Raleigh-Durham to London Heathrow was diverted to New York JFK after two flight attendants were injured due to severe turbulence.
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