Alaska Airlines Flight Diverted After Strange Odor Sickens Passengers, Crew

An Alaska Airlines flight traveling from Chicago to Seattle was forced to divert to Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport Wednesday night after a strange odor in the cabin caused some passengers and crew to fall ill.

According to NBC News, at least a dozen people onboard reported having issues breathing.

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The Boeing 737 carrying 144 passengers and six crew members was met by first responders when it landed in Minneapolis at little after 7 p.m. Wednesday. Eight people, including all six crew members, were medically evaluated at the airport. Four of the crew members were taken to a hospital for further evaluation while the remaining people declined treatment.

"The cause of the odor is being investigated and the plane has been removed from service pending an inspection," Alaska Airlines said in a statement.

Patrick Hogan, a spokesman for the local Metropolitan Airports Commission, told The Star Tribune that the odor was similar to that of "burnt plastic."

Passengers were later rebooked on other flights to Seattle.

Last month, at least five members of an American Airlines flight crew were hospitalized after reporting a strong odor on the plane as it landed at Florida's Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.