Alaska Airlines flight diverted after odor sickens passengers, crew

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – An Alaska Airlines flight was diverted to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport after a foul odor sickened some passengers and crew members.

The flight from Chicago to Seattle made the unscheduled landing about 7 p.m. Wednesday. The flight was canceled and passengers were rebooked on other flights to Seattle.

Airport spokesman Patrick Hogan says the smell was much like burnt plastic, but the source of it has not been identified. He says some people were having trouble breathing.

Eight people, including six crew members, were medically evaluated at the airport and four were taken to a hospital.

Flight 51 was carrying 144 passengers.