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Passengers on board of an American Airlines CRJ-900, operated by PSA Airlines, had to evacuate after arriving in Augusta, Georgia (United States).
The aircraft, registration N612NN, departed last Tuesday as flight AA5406 heading northwest from Charlotte, North Carolina. After takeoff, the aircraft made a turn south and climbed to a maximum altitude of approximately 16,000 feet. After nearly half an hour, the CRJ-900 prepared for landing at its destination.
Evacuation on the taxiway
After having completed a safe landing, the aircraft taxied towards the gate. However, whilst taxiing, passengers noticed a burning smell, and smoke entered the cabin. An American Airlines spokesperson stated that this was due to a ‘maintenance issue’. The aircraft came to a stop on the taxiway and passengers evacuated via both the front doors and the emergency exits near the wings.
Many travellers left the aircraft with their carry-on luggage, which is against regulations but happens regularly nonetheless. Ultimately, no one was injured. ‘All passengers deplaned and were escorted to the airport terminal. The safety of our customers is our top priority, and we apologize for the inconvenience’, a spokesperson said to CNN. The CRJ-900 was grounded for one day; the aircraft completed a flight back to Charlotte on Wednesday.
Another technical issue on the same route
However, on that same Wednesday, another CRJ-900, registration N522AE, flying from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Augusta, Georgia, also experienced a technical problem. American Airlines confirmed this statement. After takeoff, it climbed to a maximum altitude of 5,700 feet, after which it returned to the departure airport after having flown just one loop. Several hours later, however, that CRJ-900 too, was operational again.
