Earlier this week, a flight between Fort Myers and Dallas was delayed for very unusual reasons.
On August 28, American Airlines flight 2736 from Southwest Florida International Airport to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport was delayed for two hours and ten minutes due to an odor detected in the luggage compartment.
With passengers already on board, takeoff was stopped and ground crews are investigating.A passenger on the plane, who did not want to be named, told reporters Weekly newspaper: “The pilot came up and said we had to stop because there was a strong smell of propane in the cargo hold. He said it was a can of camping fuel.
“They make a few requests to people who might have something similar in their bag so they know what bag they’re looking for, which makes the whole process quicker.”
Originally scheduled to depart at 7:48 p.m., flight logs show the American Airlines flight did not depart until 9:58 p.m.
american airlines told Weekly newspaper: “The customer-operated crew of American Airlines Flight 2736, operating between Fort Myers (RSW) and Dallas/Fort Worth, reported a possible odor in the cargo hold prior to departure. As standard procedure, the team asked After a second inspection, the aircraft was cleared to take off as there was no safety risk.”
Yet the mystery remained, even after arriving safely at their destination, passengers told Weekly newspaper They were not informed of the reason for the long delay.
“We were already delayed due to the weather and then this happened after we got on the plane. We stayed on the plane but had to wait until the luggage and the smoke had been dealt with before we could be delayed,” they explained. “They had to empty the luggage compartment until they found the leaking bags. The fire department had to ventilate the luggage compartment and put all the bags back where they belonged.”
Southwest Florida International Airport’s Aircraft Rescue and Fire Department was involved in the incident and recorded an official report.
from the belly of the plane
in the reports seen Weekly newspaper, It was revealed that the cause of the delay and the unusual smell was not the propane tanks but rotting vegetables.
“St. 92 was dispatched to D1 due to a propane odor coming from the belly of the aircraft. Upon arrival, the E92 crew contacted the crew to confirm the strange smell of propane coming from the belly of the aircraft,” the report reads.
“The airline decided to unload all luggage to find the source. Rotten vegetables were found in one suitcase and were declared the culprit,” the report continued. “A fan was supplied with the E92, which airline personnel used to drain the Belly smell.”
While it’s not uncommon to find rotting food in passenger luggage, baggage handlers are understandably wary.
Rotting vegetables and other organic matter can produce a smell that resembles the smell of propane or other gases. The decomposition of organic materials can lead to the release of various gases, including methane and hydrogen sulfide.
Ground crews and baggage handlers are wary of the smell because a tank of propane gas on a plane could pose a significant risk to a flight.
Highly flammable, even a small leak can cause gas to accumulate in enclosed spaces such as luggage compartments. Sparks or heat may cause fire or explosion.
Propane gas is also typically stored in pressurized containers, and changes in temperature and altitude during a flight can also cause leaks.
For the safety of the aircraft and all passengers, airlines generally prohibit flammable gases such as propane in checked and carry-on luggage.
