’Odor described as flatulence’ affects crew members of RDU flight
RALEIGH, N.C.(WNCN) — Three American Airlines crew members from a flight to RDU complained of eye irritation and headaches from an odor described as flatulence, airport officials said.
At 3:34 p.m., a regularly scheduled American flight from Charlotte arrived at Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
Originally, it was reported passengers were affected by the odor, but 24-Hour News 8’s sister station WNCN has since learned only crew members complained about the smell after passengers deplaned.
RDU officials said EMS was called to Terminal 2 to check out the crew members who complained about the odor, but none was transported.
A RDU operations log shows at 3:34 p.m. the crew members “gave various descriptions of the smell (all indicating an individual had passed gas).”
At 4:18 p.m., a RDU representative told CBS North Carolina the “odor was described as flatulence,” according to the operations log.
American Airlines officials Sunday night said that a plane had an odor issue but denied it was because of “passed gas.”
Ross Feinstein, a spokesman for the airline, released a statement that said in part:
“We did have an aircraft from Charlotte to RDU this afternoon, that landed at 2:19 p.m. ET, and arrived the gate at 2:21 p.m. ET, that is currently out of service for an actual mechanical issue – and odor in the cabin. But It is not due to “passed gas” as mentioned.”
The flight has since returned service.