Mechanical issues force American Airlines Charlotte to London flight to land in NYC

Mechanical issues forced an American Airlines flight from Charlotte to London to land at JFK Airport Thursday morning in Queens, N.Y., the airline told The Charlotte Observer.

The Boeing 777-200 aircraft was headed for Heathrow Airport and carrying 264 passengers and 12 crew members. It diverted from its route due to a “possible mechanical issue,” airline spokeswoman Amy Lawrence said. According to flight tracking site FlightAware, the plane departed Charlotte Douglas International Airport at 11:03 p.m. Wednesday, a little less than an hour behind schedule. The American Airlines Flight No. 732 circled near Long Island, New York, before landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport at 2:38 a.m. Total travel time was three hours and 37 minutes.

The plane landed safely and without incident, the airline said. Passengers deplaned normally, and Lawrence said the airline apologized for the inconvenience caused. Passengers are scheduled to depart from JFK airport at 9:40 p.m. Thursday. The airline told the Observer that travelers were offered accommodation on other flights based on availability. Afternoon Observer Everything you need to know about the day’s news in Charlotte, direct to your inbox Monday-Friday.

American Airlines did not share additional details on the nature of the possible mechanical issue or when exactly the plane diverted its route. The American Airlines flight that was headed for Heathrow Airport had 264 passengers and 12 crew members on it.

American Airlines is the dominant carrier at Charlotte Douglas, which ranks as the fifth busiest airport in the world. charlotteobserver.com