An Alaska Airlines flight was canceled Monday night after two flight attendants became ill. The carrier said the cause was likely an “unknown odor” in the rear of the plane.
Flight ASA 828, which was scheduled to depart Honolulu at 11:45 pm for Anchorage, was in the process of boarding when two crew members reported feeling unwell.
Around 11:15 p.m., Honolulu Emergency Medical Services treated and transported them to the emergency room in “serious condition,” a Honolulu EMS spokesperson told USA TODAY.
“This incident was appropriately reported to the appropriate agencies for further action,” Alaska said.
Cruising altitude: Yes, you can inhale toxic gases during the flight
Since then, the two crew members have been medically cleared to resume the flight.
Almost all planes have ventilation systems designed to bring fresh air through the engines without using a filter. Sometimes toxic vapors from other parts of the plane can be sucked into the main cabin and, since there is no filter, contaminate the air. Exposure to toxic fumes can make people feel dizzy, nauseous, or have headaches or cramps.
The research found that toxic gas incidents on planes are rare, occurring between 0.09 and 3.9 per 1,000 flights. That’s about two to three incidents per day in the U.S.
Because flight attendants spend a lot of time in aircraft cabins, they are at greater risk of exposure to toxic gases.
Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY and lives in Hawaii. You can reach her at kwong@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared in USA TODAY: ‘Unknown odor’ on Alaska Airlines plane sends crew to hospital
