The malfunctioning ballast

RALEIGH, North Carolina (CNN) -- An American Airlines jet carrying 85 passengers made an emergency landing Sunday after the pilot reported fumes in the cockpit, an airport spokesman said.

American Airlines flight 1275, a scheduled nonstop flight to Miami originating in Washington, D.C., landed safely at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

A mechanic who boarded the MD-80 quickly determined that the fumes came from a malfunctioning light fixture, spokesman Mike Blanton said.

"One of the mechanics recognized the smell right away and went right to the source of the problem," Blanton said.

The part of the malfunctioning fixture is known as the ballast, he said.

Eight ambulances and 10 fire trucks were on hand when the plane landed, Blanton said.

None of the passengers or crew was injured, and the airplane continued on to Miami after the light was fixed, he said.

Reuters contributed to this report.