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Passenger flatulence prompts US jet to make emergency landing

WASHINGTON, Dec 6, 2006 (UNI)

An American Airlines flight made an emergency landing on Monday after a passenger with severe gas problems struck matches to mask the odor of flatulence, an official said.

The flight from Washington to Texas landed at Nashville airport, in the southeastern state of Tennessee, after passengers alerted the crew about the smell of burning sulfur, Lynne Lowrance, spokeswoman for the Nashville International Airport Authority said.

She said all 99 passengers and their luggage were taken off the plane and searched, and an unlucky canine team was brought in to sniff the aircraft for explosives.

After intense questioning by the FBI, a woman passenger admitted to lighting matches on board the aircraft to conceal her gas, Lowrance said.

‘‘For a long time she did not admit to striking matches and I think that was just out of embarrassment,’’ she said. ‘‘She did finally admit to it saying she had a medical problem about excessive gas.’’

The unidentified woman was not charged but ‘‘American did ban her from flying on their airline for a very long time,’’ Lowrance said.