FAA probing oxygen mask complaints

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- U.S. aviation authorities say they're investigating complaints that some oxygen masks on an American Airlines flight didn't deploy or work properly.

American Airlines Flight 31 from Los Angeles to Honolulu was forced to turn around and make an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport Aug. 5 after smoke was detected in the cabin, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.

As part of the procedure, oxygen masks dropped from the cabin ceiling but passengers complained that not of all them deployed and that some didn't provide oxygen. The FAA is looking into the complaints, the agency said.

"We take reports like this very seriously," Ian Gregor, an FAA spokesman, told the Times. "The FAA is working closely with American to determine what the problems are, why they happened, and to make sure the problems are fixed."

The flight's 188 passengers and seven crew members were evacuated using the aircraft's emergency chutes with eight people suffered minor injuries, airport officials said.