American Airlines Sends Wrong Plane From LAX To Hawaii; FAA Investigating
LOS ANGELES (CBS SF) -- American Airlines has reportedly confirmed sending the wrong airplane from Los Angeles to Hawaii last month, a plane that was not certified to fly across the ocean.
On August 31st, the airline used an Airbus A321S on Flight 31 to Honolulu. The plane didn't have key things like extra fire extinguishers, or extra oxygen for medical emergencies.
According to BBC News, the airline was supposed to use an Airbus A321H, which contains additional safety features.
An employee recognized the error as the plane made its way to Honolulu. The airline notified the FAA, and canceled the return trip.
The plane flew back to Los Angeles later without passengers.
"The pilots didn't know. They weren't the ones that called AA and said, we have a problem. Someone in Dallas said, I think you have a problem, and notified the pilots," aviation expert Brian Sumers said.
American Airlines only started flying the Airbus A321H to Hawaii last month. The airline used to fly Boeing 757's for the trip.