Passengers on an American Airlines regional flight from Charlotte, North Carolina to Gainesville, Florida had to don their oxygen masks Thursday as a pressurization issue forced the plane to make a quick but controlled descent.
One passenger on the flight posted on social media that the experience was “scary” and that the pictures didn’t do the full scene justice.
“The photos cannot capture the burning smell, loud bang or ear pops. Good to be on the ground,” the traveler, who goes by the username @HarrisonHove, said on X, formerly Twitter.
In a statement to USA TODAY, an American Airlines spokesperson confirmed the incident and said there were no injuries reported as a result.
“American Eagle flight 5916, operated by Piedmont Airlines, from Charlotte (CLT) to Gainesville, Florida (GNV) landed safely in GNV on Thursday, August 10,” the statement said. “While in flight, the crew received an indication of a possible pressurization issue and immediately and safely descended to a lower altitude. We apologize to our customers for any inconvenience and thank our team for their professionalism.”
In a later social media post, the passenger added that the crew was “exceptional” and “cool under pressure.”
When a plane has pressurization issues, pilots typically try to get below 10,000 feet as quickly and safely as possible. At higher altitudes, the air is thinner, which is why oxygen masks deploy in the event of a loss of cabin pressure. Below 10,000 feet, passengers will be able to breathe normally in a depressurized cabin without the use of supplemental oxygen.
Although planes may descend faster than normal during such incidents, the maneuver is something pilots are trained to do safely.