Casualties unknown

Passenger Injured During Emergency Evacuation After Threatening Note Found (N640A)

Dulles, VA, US

On October 30, 2001, a Boeing 757-223 (registration N640A) operated by American Airlines Inc was involved in an aviation accident near Dulles, VA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A passenger sustained a broken ankle during an emergency evacuation. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 14 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered N640A
Aircraft registered N640A. Photo: Eddie Maloney from North Las Vegas, USA / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Approximately 40 minutes after takeoff, a passenger discovered a threatening note on her tray table. The flightcrew declared an emergency, diverted to another airport, and landed uneventfully. During the subsequent evacuation, one passenger broke her ankle.

Incident Details

Approximately 40 minutes into the flight, a passenger extended her seat back tray and discovered a threatening note. She promptly gave the note to a flight attendant, who informed the flightcrew of its contents. Upon receiving this information, the flightcrew declared an emergency and decided to divert to another airport. The aircraft landed without incident.

Evacuation

After landing, an emergency evacuation was conducted using the aircraft's emergency slides. During the evacuation, one passenger broke her ankle as she exited from the bottom of an emergency slide.

Aftermath

The passenger who broke her ankle was transported to a hospital, where she was treated for her injuries. After receiving treatment, she returned to the airport and continued on the flight.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20020411X00491. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.