An American Airlines jet has been evacuated after passengers allegedly "smelt smoke" sparking chaotic scenes. Travellers found themselves stranded following a dramatic incident that unfolded in the middle of the night on the tarmac at Philadelphia International Airport.

American Airlines issued a statement stating that the flight was going to Savannah/Hilton Head International when the plane experienced a mechanical issue before departure. It said: "American Eagle flight 5671, operated by PSA Airlines, experienced a mechanical issue prior to departure at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). All customers and crew deplaned, and the aircraft was taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance team. We thank our team members for their professionalism and apologize to our customers for their experience."

Jerry Parker, one of the passengers seated in an emergency exit row, told NBC10 that he helped get others off the aircraft.

He said: "My flight was $600 round-trip. That's a lot of money," Parker said. "They need to hire quality people to work on the planes. Because we just had a crash a while back with a UPS plane, so that tells me they need to step their game up."

Several passengers noticed the smell of smoke as the plane moved along the runway, prompting the crew to carry out an emergency evacuation. In response, some travellers quickly exited the aircraft using its emergency exit to ensure their safety.

American Airlines has not released additional details about the cause of the mechanical issue.