oneworld

Possible electrical fumes in the cockpit spurred an American Airlines flight to make an emergency landing in North Carolina. Authorities tell news outlets that American flight 809 from Philadelphia to Orlando landed Tuesday afternoon at Wilmington International Airport. Deputy Airport Director Gary Broughton said the flight crew detected the odour in the cockpit of the Airbus A321 and deployed oxygen masks before asking to be diverted to Wilmington. The aircraft had 178 passengers and a crew of six on board. The plane taxied to the gate and passengers were allowed to leave the aircraft through the jet bridge. Emergency personnel were deployed but no injuries were reported.<br/>

Phoenix passengers on American Airlines flight 682 to Orlando on Tuesday morning had the rare opportunity to experience "new airplane smell" as they were the first passengers to ride on American Airlines’ newest addition to its fleet: the Airbus A321neo. American put the new plane into service on the 8:45 a.m. April 2 flight after receiving approval from the FAA. The sticker price is $129.5m, though airlines typically negotiate discounts when they buy in bulk. The plane is part of Airbus' A321 line and the "neo" stands for "new engine option." According to Airbus' website, the aircraft has trademarked fuel-saving wingtips called “Sharklets” and two new engine choices that deliver "per seat fuel improvements of 20%, along with additional range of up to 500 nautical miles/900 km or 2 tonnes of extra payload." Those fuel-savings specs might be lost on most passengers, but people will notice the upgraded amenities such as high-speed WiFi, power outlets at every seat and built-in holders for tablets and phones. <br/>