• U.S. plane makes emergency landing after cabin crew detect unusual odor
• All passengers transferred to replacement aircraft and completed their journey safely

A strange odor detected by the crew of an American airline flight forced an emergency landing during a journey to Los Angeles.

A company spokesperson said the flight was headed from Orlando to Los Angeles before being diverted and making an emergency landing at Tampa International Airport around 11:30 a.m. local time on Saturday, December 27.

The spokesperson clarified that the aircraft performed the emergency landing "as a precaution after the crew noticed an unusual odor."

At the time, there were 194 passengers and six crew members on board.

The spokesperson added: "A replacement aircraft was provided for the passengers to continue their journey to Los Angeles. The flight departed Tampa shortly after 3 p.m. and arrived at Los Angeles International Airport at 5:40 p.m. local time."

Authorities have not yet issued any statement regarding the cause of the odor. The spokesperson confirmed: "The safety of our customers and crew comes before anything else, and we appreciate our passengers’ patience."

This incident comes just a few weeks after a similar case involving a flight from the same airline in Texas, where the crew reported an "unknown odor or vapor" during the landing on December 16.

Upon arrival at San Antonio International Airport, five individuals reported feeling unwell.

After the aircraft landed safely, all off-airport response units were canceled except for one ambulance, which, in coordination with four units from the airport fire department, assessed the condition of those who felt unwell.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had stated on September 4 that studies indicate aircraft cabin air is "as good as or better than the air found in offices and homes."

However, rare mechanical issues, such as engine oil seal failure or a malfunctioning recirculation fan, may allow fumes to enter the cabin.