Terrifying Descent: American Airlines Flight Plummets 15,000 Feet in Minutes Due to Pressurization Issue

 In a terrifying incident, an American Airlines flight heading to Florida experienced a sudden descent of 15,000 feet in just three minutes due to a potential pressurization issue. The flight, numbered 5916, departed from Charlotte, North Carolina, with its destination set for Gainesville, Florida. The crew quickly alerted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) about the problem, leading to the immediate action of descending the plane to a lower altitude, Fox 35 News reported.

Passengers on board, including University of Florida professor Harrison Hove, took to social media to share their terrifying experience. Hove described the incident as "scary" and commended the flight crew, cabin staff, and pilots for their professionalism and for keeping the passengers informed and calm.

Flight records revealed that the biggest drop occurred approximately 42 minutes into the flight, lasting six minutes and descending 18,600 feet. It was reported that something had failed mid-flight, causing the cabin to depressurize.

The burning smell experienced by passengers was attributed to the use of oxygen canisters, while the wing flaps were deployed to lower the altitude and provide more oxygen. Fortunately, the plane safely landed at Gainesville Regional Airport. An American Airlines spokesperson later confirmed that the sudden altitude drop was indeed caused by a pressurization issue.

The flight, which was operated by Piedmont Airlines under the American Eagle brand, apologized to customers for any inconvenience caused and praised their team's professionalism during the incident. This incident serves as a reminder of the potential hazards and challenges faced by airline passengers and the importance of well-trained crew members in handling such situations.