The plane had taken off April 20 from the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport and was at about 10,000 feet, when the crew heard a loud noise and felt vibrations, a memo from the airline said. Some told the captain, Steve Kantlehner, they thought they heard an explosion.

Kantlehner checked the plane, talked with other pilots and dispatch and decided it likely was cargo shifting but nothing that would necessitate returning to DFW, The Miami Herald reported.

So, he flew on, the 10-hour journey to Paris, before landing to check it out, finding the access panel to the air conditioner had ripped off in flight, the Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram said.

The captain was saluted by the airline for doing the right thing.

''Even in hindsight, this flight was never in danger,'' an American spokeswoman told the newspaper.