Shelby is OK

Continental flight to Albuquerque turned back to IAH after burning smelldetected

Shelby Hodge tweeted: "Smell of smoke up front, kerosene in coach. Bad signs allaround. Here's our friendly fireman."
Photo by Shelby Hodge
Photo by Shelby Hodge

A planeload of passengers headed to Albuquerque, where the world-famous Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is underway, was turned back to Houston Thursday morning after a flight attendant smelled smoke in the galley soon after the Continental flight took off from Bush Intercontinental Airport.

CultureMap's own Shelby Hodge was on the plane and reports the pilot decided to return to Houston about 10 minutes into the flight after an attendant reported the smell of what seemed to be burning plastic. Hodge and her husband, Shafik Rifaat, seated over the wing of the Boeing 737-500, whiffed a strong smell of gasoline. (The plane holds 114 passengers.)

The flight landed without incident and officials in protective full body suits entered the plane to check for the possibility of hazardous materials. Passengers deplaned and were put on another flight, so hopefully, Shelby will have a relaxing and uneventful weekend.

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BBQ News

Acclaimed Texas barbecue joint now available on American Airlines

American Airlines

Pecan Lodge sandwich, soon to be served sky high.

Award-winning Dallas barbecue will soon be served in a lofty new location: on an airplane. Pecan Lodge, the acclaimed BBQ restaurant in Deep Ellum, will be featured on select flights aboard American Airlines.

According to a release, the Fort Worth-based airline is adding Pecan Lodge as an option on certain flights out of DFW bound for New York.

Pecan Lodge is the perennial Dallas BBQ favorite that opened in Deep Ellum in 2014, known for its smoked brisket and "Hot Mess" loaded baked sweet potato. The restaurant's nods include being featured on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. When Tom Cruise came through Dallas in 2025 on a tour through Texas to promote his new film Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning, where did he stop? Pecan Lodge.

The partnership with American begins in February for passengers in first class on flights from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). The offering will consist of a barbecue platter with brisket, smoked sausage, mac & cheese, coleslaw, pickles, onions, and BBQ sauce.

They'll replace that with a new item for March consisting of a chopped brisket sandwich with green beans, potato salad, pickles, onions, and BBQ sauce.

The options are available only via preorder, beginning January 11 through aa.com or American’s mobile app.

The Pecan Lodge partnership is the latest in American's commitment to elevating its customer experience. Other recent new menu additions include Champagne Bollinger and Lavazza coffee, both in lounges and in flight.

In a statement, American SVP of Customer Experience Design and Strategy Rhonda Crawford offers high praise for the barbecue brand.

“As we celebrate American’s centennial anniversary in 2026, we’re looking forward to delighting our customers in new ways that honor unique regional tastes, beginning right here in our home state through one of the most beloved barbecue restaurants in Texas,” Crawford says. “Our customers deserve nothing but the best, and Pecan Lodge is certainly that.”

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