American Airlines Flight Makes Two Emergency Landings

Passengers aboard an American Airlines flight got a double dose of excitement Sunday when the plane made two emergency landings, once for a medical emergency and then a second time for a problem with its landing gear.

Flight 223 departed from Boston on its way to LAX when a woman passenger experienced a medical emergency.

The pilot diverted to Louisville International Airport and landed safely where the woman was taken off the plane, according to Trish Burke, Louisville Airport spokesperson.

The woman reportedly had a heart condition and kept going in and out of consciousness, according to passenger Chris Buchanan.

After about three hours on the ground, the plane took off for LAX.

But Buchanan said he noticed something odd.

"I felt a bump as we were taking off but didn't think much about it," he said.

Later, the pilot told passengers that Louisville airport officials found one of the planes tires on the runway and they would be making another emergency landing at LAX.

"It's a little scary, I was coming back from vacation with my wife and two boys," Buchanan said. "My boys were fascinated and scared at the same time. But we didn't feel any panic by the crew or the passengers."

The plane flew by the control tower at LAX so officials could inspect the damage before heading over the ocean to dump excess fuel.

As they approached, Buchanan said he saw a spotlight from an LAPD helicopter lighting up the planes landing gear and emergency crews gathering on the runway.

"When we saw emergency vehicles, we said 'wow that's pretty serious,'" he said. "It comforts you and makes your stressed out at the same time."

Air traffic controllers cleared Runway 25 Left, and the plane touched down about 2:30 a.m.

No injuries were reported, but a photographer at the scene said some sparks shot from what appeared to be a mangled piece of landing gear.

"One we landed, everybody kind of cheered," Buchanan said.

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