Inside airplanes, the tickets for a number of Americans (10)

I believe the answer is:

anesthetic

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'number of americans' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I don't see?

'inside airplanes the tickets' is the wordplay.
'inside' indicates a hidden word.
'ANESTHETIC' is hidden in the letters of 'airplanes the tickets'.

'for a' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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