Plane lands in Los Angeles after declaring emergency
LOS ANGELES -- Authorities say an American Airlines plane has landed safely after declaring an emergency and diverting to Los Angeles International Airport.
Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey says the plane landed and taxied normally late Thursday morning and firefighters were not needed.
A Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman says nobody required hospitalization after an American Airlines jet that made a safe emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport.
Humphrey says eight people, including a flight attendant, were evaluated after Flight 564 landed Thursday. Passengers had reported respiratory irritation.
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor says Flight 564 declared the emergency while flying from San Jose, California, to Phoenix.
Airport spokeswoman Katherine Alvarado says a mechanical problem was reported aboard the plane, which had 137 people aboard.
Air Traffic control audio captures the flight talking to the approach about smoke in the cabin and having to drop oxygen masks.
American Airlines released a statement regarding the incident.
"American Airlines Flight 564 from San Jose, Calif., to Phoenix diverted to Los Angeles due to a mechanical issue. The aircraft, an Airbus A319 with 125 passengers and a crew of five, landed safely and taxied to the gate. Our maintenance team is currently evaluating the aircraft," the statement read. "We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience, and are working to get them to Arizona as soon as possible."