Source:Simon Hradecky | www.avherald.com

An American Airlines Airbus A330-200, registration N282AY performing flight AA-793 from Philadelphia,PA to Charlotte,NC (USA) with 98 people on board, was in the initial climb out of Philadelphia’s runway 09L in contact with departure cleared to 10,000 feet, when the crew reported “Philly, we have a problem”, they had levelled off at 4000 feet and needed to return to Philadelphia. When departure queried about their problem the crew explained “we are squawking 7700”. The crew subsequently donned their oxygen masks, communication problems arose prompting departure to query whether they were on oxygen, which the crew affirmed advising only the flight deck was on oxygen. The aircraft returned to Philadelphia for a safe landing on runway 09R about 10 minutes after departure, the crew advised they were taxiing to the gate, no assistance was required from emergency services unless they saw something. Emergency services reported they could not see anything unusual, the aircraft continued taxi to the gate with emergency services in trail.

A passenger reported there had been an unusual smell in the cabin prior to departure. After departure cabin crew announced there were fumes in the cockpit and the flight crew was on oxygen, they were returning to Philadelphia.

A replacement A330-200 registration N286AY reached Charlotte with a delay of 6.5 hours.