An American Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing Monday morning after a passenger lit a match to disguise the odour of flatulence, authorities said.
The Dallas-bound flight was diverted to Nashville after several passengers reported smelling burning sulfur from the matches, said Lynne Lowrance, spokeswoman for the Nashville International Airport Authority.
All 99 passengers and five crew members were taken off and screened while the plane was searched and luggage was screened.
The FBI questioned a passenger who admitted she struck the matches in an attempt to conceal a "body odour," Lowrance said. She had an unspecified medical condition, authorities said.
"It's humorous in a way, but you feel sorry for the individual as well," she said. "It's unusual that someone would go to those measures to cover it up."
The flight took off again, but the woman was not allowed back on the plane. The woman, who was not identified, was not charged in the incident.
An American Airlines flight from Washington to Dallas was forced to land in Nashville after a Dallas woman lit her flatulence to disguise its odour; several passengers noticed a suspicious smell.

The Dallas woman, who had ignited her fart in the lavatory, had not been forthcoming about the burning smell noticed by other passengers.  All passengers and crew were disembarked while the plane and luggage were searched.


A bomb sniffing dog located her spent matches and the woman admitted to lighting her fart to disguise odor after a "lengthy questioning" by the FBI.  She said her flatulence was caused by a medical condition.

A spokeswoman for Nashville airport said "Since there was no malice involved and the incident was accidental, she was not charged with anything."

After the flight resumed, the woman was not allowed back on the plane.