Narrative:

An hour out; flight attendants report burning smell (one says burning electric; other burning rubber). Divert. On ground maintenance shows up goes to row where smell was first experienced and asks if anybody is eating an 'ajonjoli' sesame seed candy bar. Lady replies; yes. Maintenance takes candy to flight attendant and asks if this is what she smelled. Flight attendant says 'yes; exactly.' mechanic comes to cockpit and reports (and I quote): '18 out of 20' callouts; pre-taxi; taxi backs and diverts; the reason has been these candies! Safety ramifications of needless divert are obvious. We've got to get the word out; not just to our air carrier; but all airlines (esp in caribbean).

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR ACFT RETURN TO LAND AFTER FLT ATTENDANTS RPT BURNING SMELL. AFTER LNDG; MAINT FOUND THAT A PAX HAD BEEN EATING AJONJOLI CANDY THAT POSSESSES A BURNT ELECTRICAL SMELL.

Narrative: AN HOUR OUT; FLT ATTENDANTS RPT BURNING SMELL (ONE SAYS BURNING ELECTRIC; OTHER BURNING RUBBER). DIVERT. ON GND MAINT SHOWS UP GOES TO ROW WHERE SMELL WAS FIRST EXPERIENCED AND ASKS IF ANYBODY IS EATING AN 'AJONJOLI' SESAME SEED CANDY BAR. LADY REPLIES; YES. MAINT TAKES CANDY TO FLT ATTENDANT AND ASKS IF THIS IS WHAT SHE SMELLED. FLT ATTENDANT SAYS 'YES; EXACTLY.' MECHANIC COMES TO COCKPIT AND RPTS (AND I QUOTE): '18 OUT OF 20' CALLOUTS; PRE-TAXI; TAXI BACKS AND DIVERTS; THE REASON HAS BEEN THESE CANDIES! SAFETY RAMIFICATIONS OF NEEDLESS DIVERT ARE OBVIOUS. WE'VE GOT TO GET THE WORD OUT; NOT JUST TO OUR ACR; BUT ALL AIRLINES (ESP IN CARIBBEAN).

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.