A regional jet bound for Texas was forced into an urgent diversion on March 1st 2026 after smoke was reported in the cockpit while climbing through cruising altitude.
The PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ900, registered N569NN, was operating flight AA-5063 on behalf of American Airlines from Tallahassee, Florida to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. The aircraft was climbing through Flight Level 310 when the crew reported smoke in the cockpit and elected to divert.
The pilots turned toward Pensacola, Florida and advised air traffic control that they intended to evacuate the aircraft after landing. Approximately 15 minutes later, the CRJ-900 touched down safely on runway 17 and came to a stop on the runway surface.
An evacuation was carried out as a precaution. There were no immediate reports of serious injuries.
To minimize passenger disruption, a replacement CRJ-900, registered N590NN, was dispatched from Charlotte, North Carolina to Pensacola. The substitute aircraft resumed the journey to Dallas, arriving with a delay of about five hours.
As of 24 hours after landing, the occurrence aircraft remained on the ground in Pensacola for inspection and troubleshooting.
Smoke in the cockpit is treated as a high-priority event due to the potential for electrical faults or hidden fires. Standard procedures call for rapid assessment, protective measures, and diversion to the nearest suitable airport. In this case, the crew’s swift decision-making ensured a safe landing and orderly evacuation.
