Sequence & Resolution
Event Date05/15/2026
Level
Serious Incident
CategorySmoke Indication
Flight PhaseApproach
Technical Issue Details
•Bombardier CRJ-900LR (N616NN) was on final approach to runway 19L at Kansas City International Airport.
•The incident occurred on flight AA5318 operated on behalf of American Airlines, departing from Washington National Airport.
•There were 76 passengers and 4 crew members on board at the time of the event.
•Approximately 2 miles out from the runway, the flight crew detected a significant amount of smoke in the passenger cabin.
•The crew declared an emergency but continued the approach to complete the landing.
Outcome / Handling
•The aircraft landed safely on runway 19L at Kansas City Airport approximately 1-2 minutes after the emergency declaration.
•After touchdown, the aircraft taxied clear of the runway and came to a stop.
•The captain ordered an immediate emergency evacuation, and all passengers and crew members exited via the escape slides.
•No injuries were reported among the passengers and crew.
Current Status
•The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation to determine the source of the smoke.
•Airport fire and rescue crews inspected the aircraft but were unable to immediately identify the source of the smoke.
•PSA Airlines dispatched a replacement CRJ-900 (N553NN) to perform the return flight, which departed with a delay of approximately 5 hours and 15 minutes.
•The occurrence aircraft (N616NN) remained grounded at Kansas City for technical inspections and investigation.
Sourcesimpleflying.com
Flight Information
Flight NumberAA5318
Landing Runway19L (MCI)
Involved AirlinePSA Airlines
Involved FlightAA5318
Replacement AircraftN553NN
Delay Duration5 hours 15 minutes