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DALLAS: American Airlines continues to have irritating problems with its outdated MD-80s.

In the latest incident, flight AA1767 from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport to Palm Springs returned to Dallas after the pilot experienced problems with the aircraft's stabilisation.

 
The plane, with 123 on board, landed without incident at about 2.30pm local time on Wednesday.

 
A day earlier, another MD-80 was involved in an emergency landing at Little Rock, Arkansas, after smoke entered the plane's cockpit. The flight left Indianapolis at 2.30pm, bound for Dallas, but landed in Little Rock soon after 3.30pm. None of the 127 passengers or five crew were injured.

 
An American Airlines spokesperson said a "light haze" of smoke in the cockpit dissipated after the pilot shut down the cockpit's electrical system and depressurised the plane's cabin.

 
A replacement plane was sent from Tulsa to take the passengers on to Dallas, but that flight encountered thunderstorms and was diverted to Shreveport where it waited until the weather cleared. Passengers finally reached Dallas shortly after 10pm.