An American Eagle regional flight made an urgent diversion and emergency landing at Washington Dulles International Airport after a flight attendant became incapacitated shortly after departure from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Flight and diversion details
The operation involved American Eagle Flight 5078, operated by PSA Airlines on a Bombardier CRJ700 registered N533AE. The service was originally scheduled to depart Ronald Reagan National for Tallahassee, Florida, but ran behind schedule and took off at 22:50 EDT, more than two hours late.
| Operator | Flight | Aircraft | Registration | Departure | Diverted to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA Airlines (operating for American Eagle) | AA5078 | Bombardier CRJ700 | N533AE | Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport | Washington Dulles International Airport |
Sequence of events
Shortly after take-off and while climbing towards cruise, the crew halted the climb at about 22,000 feet. The pilots informed air traffic control that a flight attendant had become severely ill and was unable to perform safety duties. The crew declared an emergency and requested an immediate diversion to the nearest suitable airport.
Air traffic control vectored the aircraft back towards Dulles, and the CRJ700 landed on Runway 1R at Dulles 46 minutes after departure. The aircraft taxied to Gate B71 where emergency medical personnel were positioned to receive the incapacitated crew member.
Outcome and regulatory context
- No other injuries were reported among passengers or the remainder of the crew.
- The flight attendant received immediate medical attention from on-site responders; further details about their condition have not been released.
- The action followed standard regulatory and operational practice requiring a fully functional cabin crew to be maintained during flight; when a crew member becomes unfit, crews are expected to land at the nearest suitable aerodrome without delay.
Federal regulations place a duty on flight crews to ensure cabin safety standards are met throughout flight; the rapid diversion in this case reflects that requirement. No statements from PSA Airlines, American Airlines, or federal authorities were included in the initial report. No other operational anomalies or safety issues were reported in connection with the flight.
