FAA investigating if debris found in NE Charlotte is from London-bound flight

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating whether debris found in northeast Charlotte was from a flight that was originally bound for London but had to return to Charlotte Douglas International Airport after experiencing an engine problem Thursday evening.

The crew of American Airlines flight 730, an Airbus 333, reported a possible engine problem and declared an emergency shortly after departing from Charlotte.

The plane, which was headed to Heathrow Airport, returned to Charlotte Douglas and landed safely at 7:35 p.m., according to the FAA.

Debris was then found in the area of Interstate 85 and W.T. Harris Boulevard, in the parking lot of the Wells Fargo Corporate Information Center, and the FAA is investigating whether that debris may have been from the aircraft.

Channel 9 watched as federal investigators taped off the area as they tried to determine if the debris fell from the plane.

A spokesperson for American Airlines told Channel 9 that the flight had 210 passengers and 11 crew members.

“What happened, we didn't hear it?” air traffic control said to the pilots.

“Rough running engine on a 330 departure,” the pilot responded. “Had to come back.”

After returning to Charlotte, the passengers were placed on a different plane and re-departed for London at 1:50 a.m.

The airline has been notified of reports of the possible debris and is working with the FAA on the investigation.

Adrian Olmeda was working nearby as the plane flew overhead

“I heard a weird noise,” Olmeda said. “It sounded like something was dropping from the sky.”

A co-worker saw the whole thing.

“He said he looked in the sky and seen smoke coming from an engine,” Olmeda said

If it is determined that the debris fell from the plane, it wouldn’t be the first time an American Airlines flight had something fall from it over Charlotte.

In August of last year, a door fell from a plane and landed on the Green Meadows golf course in Mount Holly.

Officials told Channel 9 that the door to a hydraulics system should've been locked and that the falling part went unnoticed by crew members.

Check back with wsoctv.com for updates on this story.

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