American Airlines was forced to ground one of its Airbus A321-200 aircraft after toxic fumes prompted a diversion to Los Angeles. According to a report by the Aviation Herald, seven passengers complained of feeling unwell and experiencing a bad taste in their mouths. They were examined by medical staff upon arrival, though none required hospitalization.
The 
A Closer Look Into The Incident
On October 14, 2025, the American Airlines Airbus A321-200, registered N587UW, departed 
According to the Aviation Herald, the American Airlines A321 was climbing through 5,000 feet when the pilots and cabin crew donned their oxygen masks after detecting toxic fumes on board. The flight crew informed ATC of the situation and returned to LAX, landing safely about 15 minutes after departure. According to Flightradar24.com, the aircraft is still on the ground at Los Angeles Airport.
More About The Grounded A321-200
The aircraft in question is an 11-year-old Airbus A321-200 that was originally ordered by US Airways in 1997, prior to the airline’s merger with American Airlines. It was ultimately delivered to American Airlines in 2014, 17 years after the original order.
According to data from ch-aviation, the aircraft had accumulated a total of 34,881 flight hours and 14,448 flight cycles as of July 31, 2025. This specific A321 can accommodate a total of 190 passengers in a three-class cabin layout: 20 in business class, 35 in economy plus, and 135 in economy class.
According to Flightradar24.com, the flights before the incident included routes between West Palm Beach (PMI) and Charlotte (CLT), CLT and Orlando (MCO), and between MCO and Los Angeles (LAX). The alternative flight to New York was also operated by the carrier’s Airbus A321-200. At present, American Airlines has a total of 218 A321-200s in its fleet, with an average age of 13.2 years.
Toxic Fumes Issue On The A320 Family
According to an investigative report by the Wall Street Journal on September 13, 2025, fume events have been on the rise, with the problem worsening and little being done to address it. The incidents are largely linked to leaks on Airbus’s A320 family of jets, the report said. Passengers and flight attendants typically describe the odor as metallic. The fumes are toxic and can cause brain injury and permanent damage to the peripheral nervous system, Robert Kaniecki, a neurologist and consultant to the Pittsburgh Steelers, told the publication.
Delta Air Lines is reportedly replacing auxiliary power units (APUs) on its fleet of Airbus A320 family aircraft to address toxic fume leakages. According to a report by CBS News, the Atlanta-based airline said it is replacing APUs on more than 300 Airbus A320 family jets. The initiative, whose costs have not been disclosed, began in 2022, according to the report. Data from ch-aviation shows that Delta Air Lines operates a total of 321 Airbus A320 family aircraft, including A321s, A320s, and A319s.
An APU is a small jet engine located in the tailcone that provides electrical and pneumatic power to the aircraft, primarily when the main engines are shut down. Occasionally, APUs can leak oil fumes into the cabin, posing health risks to both crew and passengers. The leaks occur because the air that passengers breathe on an aircraft is drawn through the engines. This system, known as ‘bleed air,’ is used in nearly all modern commercial jetliners, except the Boeing 787.