Chinese herbs halt flight at San Francisco airport

There can be any number of reasons for a flight delay and of late the causes of flight delays are: Volcanic ash, snow, strikes, failed computer systems etc. But did you know that odour from herbs could lead to evacuation of the airplane and subsequent flight delay?

Recently, a Chicago-bound flight at San Francisco airport was evacuated on the grounds of strong chemical odour that emitted from a carry-on bag. Passengers were taken off the flight and dogs and hazardous materials team came in but nothing dangerous was detected.

Finally it was determined that the odour came from the Chinese herbs in a carry-on bag owned by an elderly couple. There was reportedly a delay of at least six hours before the plane could depart.

Earlier when the volcanic ash from Iceland swept over UK, San Francisco flights to Europe were cancelled and passengers were stranded at the San Francisco airport. But herbs causing delay has never been heard of before.

The BA strikes have also led to delay and cancellation of many US flights and those who want to book their flights to San Francisco need to find out before they book their tickets. Thus uncertainties are looming large everywhere and there is so much fear and suspicion in the air that it is difficult to distinguish between the simple and the complex.

Anything on earth seems to be suspicious and scary at this moment and soon there would be a restriction on peanuts in aircrafts because many passengers are allergic to it. Who knows what more is yet to come?