https://avherald.com/h?article=52b548cf&opt=0(well shut the door !!) Report below, actual issue at the end.)
An American Airlines Boeing 737-8 MAX, registration N329SL performing flight AA-3221 from New York La Guardia,NY to Charlotte,NC (USA), was climbing out of La Guardia when the crew stopped the climb at FL200 reporting vibrations on board. The crew subsequently decided to divert to Philadelphia, on approach to Philadelphia the crew advised they had the vibrations under control now, they appeared to be related to an elevator trim tab. The aircraft landed safely on Philadelphia's runway 09R about 45 minutes after departure. After landing the crew advised they would lower the spoilers and asked emergency services to have a look at the upper side of the wing and also the elevators for anything unusual, emergency services reported it all looked normal. The aircraft taxied to the apron.
A replacement Boeing 737-8 MAX registration N318SF reached Charlotte with a delay of about 3:10 hours.
The occurrence aircraft returned to service about 16 hours after landing.
What actually happened...
By CJ on Thursday, Aug 7th 2025 09:22Z
This is from the FAA SDRS system.
"AIRCRAFT WAS GROUNDED: AN EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED DUE TO: DURING CLIMBOUT THERE WERE CONTINUOUS AIRFRAME VIBRATIONS AS AIRCRAFT ACCELERATED TO CLIMB SPEED. AIRCRAFT EMERGENCY LANDED SAFELY AT PHL. UPON LANDING APU INLET DOOR WAS FULLY OPEN WHILE OM MEL 49-51. APU INLET SHOULD HAVE BEEN FULLY CLOSED, PER MEL 49-51. CLOSED AND VERFIED APU INLET PER MEL 49-51. NO FURTHER DAMAGE NOTED."
