American Airlines Flight 31

American Airlines Flight 31, about one hour out from Los Angeles bound for Honolulu Hawaii made a return and emergency landing in Los Angeles International Airport after a passenger smelled smoke. Oxygen masks were deployed. The passengers evacuated via emergency slides on runway 7L. Out of the 188 passengers on board six sustained minor injuries. The Boeing 757 landed about an hour after the emergency was declared. Fire crews found no indication of a fire anywhere in the aircraft. The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate a spokesperson for American said.

A Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson, Ian Gregor, said that he could not recall the last time an aircraft had to deploy emergency slides at an airport.

At the airport, fire crews were preparing for a publicity event as a new Airbus A380 flight from Emirates Airline was to be welcomed. Some of the events were canceled.

Airline officials afterwards attributed the smoke to oil leaked from the port engine's compressor which overheated causing smoke, then drawn into the air recirculation system.

Cabin personnel were criticised by the airline for independently choosing to deploy the escape chutes. In turn this prompted a reaction from attendents arguing that safety demands they be ready to make such decisions and thanks from a passenger. In fact, an American Airlines purser died opening a cabin door on Flight 1291, 20 November 2000 during an emergency evacuation.

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