Funny smell forces evacuation and delay of flight

A Chicago-bound flight was evacuated and delayed six hours after a crew member smelled a strange odour coming from a carry-on bag, San Francisco International Airport officials have said.

A Chicago-bound flight was evacuated and delayed six hours after a crew member smelled a strange odour coming from a carry-on bag, San Francisco International Airport officials have said.

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Officials said the United Airlines flight was taxiing to the runway yesterday morning when a flight attendant noticed a "pungent chemical odour" emanating from a bag that contained Chinese herbs.

The passengers were taken off the plane and re-screened, while dogs and hazardous materials and explosive teams searched the aircraft.