Skywest plane makes emergency landing in Buffalo after passenger loses consciousness (original) (raw)
Updated on: April 22, 2015 / 3:24 PM EDT / CBS News
A SkyWest Airlines flight from Chicago to Connecticut was interrupted after the captain declared an emergency and diverted to Buffalo, N.Y
Plane makes emergency landing in Buffalo, N.Y. 05:26
CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. -- Authorities say a SkyWest Airlines flight from Chicago has made an emergency landing in Buffalo, New York, and at least one passenger lost consciousness.
A statement from the Federal Aviation Administration says the flight departed from O'Hare International Airport and was bound for Bradley International Airport in Connecticut when it landed at Buffalo Niagara International Airport at about 11:40 a.m. Wednesday.
SkyWest Airlines spokeswoman Marissa Snow says the plane didn't appear to have a pressurization issue.
Snow says one passenger lost consciousness. She says the pilots rapidly descended "out of an abundance of caution." That is the standard move if a plane loses pressure because of the higher oxygen content at lower elevations.
SkyWest told CBS News that after the passenger lost consciousness, the pilot thought that he might have a pressurization issue so he declared an emergency and dropped the plane from 37,000 feet to 10,300 feet, then leveled off and started a more controlled descent.
"Everyone knew something was going on," passenger Vanessa Bergmann told CBS affiliate WIVB. "No one was really sure at that point how intense the situation was. The scariest thing was the nose dive. It was very obvious we were descending as rapidly as we could at that point."
She told WIVB that after landing, there were paramedics on the scene.
The airline said the passenger received medical attention before being released.
"We are working to accommodate the 75 passengers to Hartford," the airline said in a statement.
SkyWest Flight 5622 landed safely in Buffalo, NY after a passenger lost consciousness, no problem w door. Other 75 pax being accommodated.
— SkyWest Airlines (@SkyWestAirlines) April 22, 2015
The FAA is investigating.
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