( CNN ) -- A United Airlines flight was diverted to Cuba on Sunday after its crew reported a strong odor in the plane , U.S. aviation and airline spokesmen said . Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Les Dorr said United Flight 831 , an Airbus A320 , landed safely at Jose Marti Airport in Havana at 12:07 p.m. local time . The flight had left Washington Dulles airport , located in northern Virginia , just before 9 a.m. , according to United 's website . It was supposed to land at 11:27 a.m. in Cancun , Mexico . But crew members `` noticed an unfamiliar smell in the cabin , '' said United Airlines spokesman Charlie Hobart . Dorr noted that the crew detected a burning smell , saying it was in the cockpit . `` In an abundance of caution , the pilots decided to land the aircraft in the nearest available airport , '' Hobart said , explaining how the plane ended up in Cuba . The aircraft had 135 passengers and five crew members -- two pilots and three flight attendants -- on board . It remained on the ground , in the Caribbean nation , as of 5:15 p.m. Hobart said the airline is `` working to reaccommodate our customers , '' saying another plane was being ferried in from Cancun that will then take the passengers there . Normally , there are tight restrictions on the travel of U.S. citizens to the Communist state of Cuba , based on federal law . United does not typically fly to Cuba , according to its website .
United Flight 831 took off around 9 a.m. from Dulles airport , the airline 's website says . Its crew noticed a strong odor in the plane , says FAA and United spokesmen . The pilot reported that he smelled smoke but did not know what caused it until after takeoff, said spokesman Ross Feinstein. United , which does n't fly to Cuba , is sending a plane there to transport passengers .