Frontier Passengers, Flight Attendant Hospitalized Due To Unknown Odor In Plane

A Frontier flight from Orlando, Florida, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was diverted to Raleigh-Durham International Airport, North Carolina, Wednesday, after an unknown odor was detected in the plane’s cabin.

“Flight 1674 operating from Orlando to Philadelphia has landed safely and without incident in Raleigh/Durham with 230 passengers and seven crew. Safety and security of our crew and guests is our number one priority and out of an abundance of caution, this flight diverted due to an unknown odor in the cabin. A new aircraft is being dispatched to continue the flight,” Frontier Airlines said in a statement, Fox 8 reported.

Emergency crews were already on standby at the runway, waiting for the flight, which taxied to a gate at Terminal 2 of the airport at about 7:15 p.m. EDT. Photos taken by passengers onboard the flight show firefighters walking in the aisle of the plane’s cabin.

Fourteen people onboard the flight reportedly received medical assistance. Eight of them were treated at the airport, while three of them were taken to the WakeMed Brier Creek hospital. The nature of treatment for the remaining three was unknown.

Among the passengers who were medically examined were a flight attendant and an infant. "In this kind of situation, anyone requesting a medical evaluation receives one," said Richard Oliver, a Frontier spokesman, ABC11 reported. "Safety and security of our crew and guests is our number one priority."

“A new aircraft is being sent to continue the flight. It will be departing Orlando shortly to ferry to RDU to pick up passengers,” Oliver added.

The cause of the odor is still under investigation.

This is not the first instance of flights diverted due to strange odors filling up the aircraft. Back in January, several passengers and crew onboard a JetBlue flight complained of feeling sick after smelling an “unusual odor” on the flight. As a result, Flight 1095 from Boston to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, that departed Logan International Airport, made a turnaround and returned to the airport within an hour and half.

"Shortly after departure from Boston, the crew on board JetBlue Flight 1095 to Punta Cana reported an unusual odor and customers and crew members feeling unwell. In an abundance of caution, the crew elected to return to Boston and was met by medical (personnel). The aircraft will be inspected," the statement from JetBlue read.

Even the Federal Aviation Administration issued a statement regarding the incident saying: “JetBlue 1095, an Airbus A320, landed safely on Runway 33L at Boston Logan International Airport tonight 6:25 p.m. after reporting fumes in the cabin. The FAA will investigate.”