CHARLOTTE, N.C. — plans were delayed for hundreds of people on a flight from Charlotte to Rome.

American Airlines flight 720 left Charlotte at 6:40 p.m. on Wednesday and was scheduled to land in Rome, Italy, at 9:50 a.m. on Thursday, but was instead diverted back to the Charlotte airport. The plane was over the Atlantic Ocean when it diverted back to Charlotte, according to flight tracking data.

The cause of the diversion was a mechanical issue, according to an American Airlines spokesperson.

The plane landed safely in Charlotte and taxied to the gate under its own power. Maintenance crews further inspected the plane at the airport.

"We never want to disrupt our customers’ travel plans and we apologize for the inconvenience," the spokesperson said.

Flight 720 is scheduled to depart Ch

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