I have been traveling since before Frequent Flyer programs began and long before communicating via brief text or tweets were the norm. So when something happens while traveling I have never experienced before for me it is something to take note of. And this year I have had 2 things happen that I have never experienced before.

The first was in Philadelphia in the spring on a lovely clear spring afternoon while sitting on the aircraft we suddenly heard a load bang and some shaking of the aircraft. Turns out a driver of some type of airport cart struck the airplane which was still parked at the gate. Apparently, it damaged it enough that the AC was taken out of service and the flight cancelled. No one was hurt except maybe the driver of the cart (we never did find out) and everyone but me was moved onto a different flight, I used this as a reason to cancel my trip and enjoy the remainder or the day.

The second thing was really different and happened just last week in Charlotte. This time the aircraft was taken out of service due to a hat. Yes, a hat it seems than a ramp worker got to close to the intake for the AC system and his hat (cap) got sucked into the system. Since I was going to now miss my connection in Dallas I asked to get off the flight to find out other options. Since the AC door was still open and I had only carryon this was permitted. After clarifying and make alternative flight arrangements I was watching the attempts to find the hat. Apparently it takes a minimum of 8 ramp personnel and a long stick with a hook to find the hat. A little while later everyone got off the plane but they did end up finding the hat. Ended up back on the same aircraft but now with a new connection boarding pass and protection on the next flight. And I even ended up with a better seat since not everyone got back on this aircraft.

For me both of these were new and interesting and if the Moderator things this is better posted elsewhere pleas move, but they both did happen on American.