American Airlines Flight Returns to Buenos Aires Due to Unusual Noise in Cargo Hold
On October 31, 2024, an American Airlines Boeing 777-300, operating as flight AA-954 from Buenos Aires to New York JFK, returned to Buenos Aires Ezeiza Airport following an unusual noise detected in the cargo hold. About 400 nautical miles into the flight at cruising altitude, the crew opted to turn back, landing safely on runway 11 approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes after takeoff. Upon landing, armed police conducted a search of the cargo hold, but no issues were found.
American Airlines clarified that reports suggesting a person might be in the cargo hold were inaccurate, stating that the noise report led to precautionary measures but ultimately no cause for concern was identified. Passengers were initially rescheduled to depart later that day; however, the flight was postponed and subsequently canceled. The aircraft, registration N717AN, remains grounded in Buenos Aires and is now expected to depart as flight AA-900 approximately 24 hours after the originally planned departure.
This incident highlights the safety protocols in place to address potential concerns, with the airline emphasizing customer safety and apologizing for the delay.