American Eagle Flight 5089 returned to St. Louis Lambert International Airport on October 17, 2026, after a reported odor prompted an emergency landing and runway evacuation. The aircraft landed safely, passengers left the plane, and no injuries were reported.
The flight took off at 8:13 a.m. and landed back at 8:59 a.m. FlightAware data showed it spent 34 minutes in the air. The airport spokesperson said passengers were evacuated after landing.
Passengers described a sudden jolt, smoke or haze in the cabin, and oxygen masks dropping from overhead. The pilot told air traffic control there were fumes in the cockpit and requested fire equipment.
The flight had already been delayed by an engine problem before takeoff. Passengers later questioned why the plane had been cleared to depart. The cause of the odor has not been explained.
An engine-start problem preceded the jolt and oxygen masks
The departure was delayed more than two hours. Olivia Clancy said crew members announced over the intercom that the engines would not start.
Tessa and Mark Springer, a couple from Waterloo, Illinois, were traveling from St. Louis to Pennsylvania for work. Mark Springer recalled a loud buzzing and grinding noise coming from the rear of the plane. He said the pilot then announced an engine problem and told passengers, “We can't get it started.”
The aircraft was eventually cleared and refueled before departure. About 15 minutes into the flight, Clancy said she noticed a problem with the plane’s thrust.
“You could tell right away after we took off that the plane was having problems with its thrust, I guess,” Clancy said. “I looked at my husband and said, 'This is not normal.' Then, out came the airbags.”
Mark Springer described a hard jolt that pushed passengers forward. About a minute later, he said, the plane made a bang and dropped. Oxygen masks deployed, and passengers reported smoke. He said haze filled the cabin as a flight attendant shouted instructions.
In air traffic control audio, the pilot told the tower, “We have fumes in the cockpit, we need to expedite,” and requested “fire equipment” on the tarmac.
Flight attendants ordered an immediate cabin evacuation
Video recorded inside the cabin captured a flight attendant shouting, “Evacuate, evacuate, evacuate!” Another crew member called, “Release seatbelts, get out. Leave belongings,” according to the recording.
Clancy said passengers were told to run once they exited. “You don't know if this plane is going to blow up,” she said.
The Springers evacuated by jumping from the wing. Other passengers caught one another as people climbed down. They waited beside the runway for transportation back to the terminal, and Tessa Springer took photos while they waited.
The airport spokesperson said the aircraft landed safely and passengers were evacuated. No injuries were reported.
Passengers feared the plane would go down
During the emergency, Tessa Springer texted her children, “Problem on our plane, love you guys.” She said she feared the worst.
“I've never experienced that before. I never want to experience it again. I just thought our kids were going to lose both their parents today.”
Springer said she kept picturing her children losing both parents at once. She was sure “the plane was going to go down” because of the way the flight crew was behaving.
The Springers said they were grateful to be home but remained shaken. Mark Springer said, “I don't think I'll ever be able to get on another airplane ever again.”
The CRJ900 was bound for Philadelphia
PSA Airlines, part of American Airlines Group, operated the flight with a Bombardier CRJ900 registered as N574NN. The 11-year-old regional jet can seat up to 76 passengers in two cabin classes.
The aircraft has six exits: two at the front and four over the wings. It was scheduled to fly from St. Louis to Philadelphia International Airport.
The flight had been scheduled to depart at 6:00 a.m. local time. The plane ultimately left at 8:13 a.m. and returned to the airport less than an hour later.
The airline apologized as passengers questioned the earlier clearance
American Airlines said the flight returned after a reported odor. The airline apologized to customers and thanked its team members for their professionalism. Passengers were rebooked on alternate flights.
Clancy said an email from the airline offered four $12 food vouchers for her party. She described the offer as “a slap in the face.”
Clancy and the Springers questioned how the aircraft had been cleared after the engine issue on the ground. Mark Springer asked, “At what point did they decide you're checked, you're cleared to take the air? What was wrong and what made it OK?”
Gary Leff, a Texas-based aviation expert and founder of the blog View from the Wing, said engine oil entering an aircraft’s air supply could potentially explain an odor. He said that problem can also cause smoke, vibration and loud noises, and can make people ill. The cause of this incident has not been confirmed.
Leff said a lengthy delay for a mechanical problem does not by itself mean a flight is unsafe. He said crews may need time to diagnose and address an issue, complete paperwork, and conduct final checks.
“A long delay in and of itself is not a safety concern.”
Leff also said aircraft systems and emergency procedures provide redundancies, and credited the cockpit crew’s response with getting passengers back on the ground and off the aircraft safely.
American had not explained what caused the odor or why the oxygen masks deployed. Flight-tracking data showed N574NN remained on the ground in St. Louis at the time of the report.
