Flight From Miami Evacuated Because Of Fumes From Carry-On Luggage

MIAMI, FL — A flight from Miami to Barbados returned to Florida Wednesday evening and was evacuated after chemical fumes from a carry-on suitcase made passengers sick, according to multiple reports.

After the plane took off from Miami International Airport around 6 p.m., passengers noticed the smell and pilots turned the flight around.

“Once the plane landed, units proceeded to deplane the aircraft with 173 passengers on board,” MDFR said in a statement to Local 10 News. “HazMat units performed a hazard assessment due to reports of a strong chemical smell inside the plane.”

The passengers were bussed back to the terminal and offered hotel accommodations and a seat for the flight rescheduled for Thursday morning, NBC Miami said.

“A smell came into the cabin, maybe midway through the flight. It smelled like nail polish. It was really strong,” one passenger told WSVN.

Another passenger said, ““Personally, it didn’t have an effect on me, but I understand that a couple of other passengers felt sick. They might have been vomiting. It felt strong enough for a couple of people. We were in the back of the plane, so it didn’t seem that out of the ordinary. I was hoping we could plow through, but I guess not.”

A passenger described it as an acetone-type smell, though authorities and American Airlines didn’t say what caused the chemical fumes, according to reports.