Spirit Airline Flight Grounded Due To Potent 'Dirty Socks' Smell

A Spirit Airlines flight out of LaGuardia was diverted on Thursday on account of a potentially hazardous "dirty socks" smell, which reportedly caused chest pains and complaints of burning throats in some passengers.

Around 200 people were on the Fort Lauderdale-bound plane when the foul stench was unleashed, according to WNBC, and at least seven of them required medical treatment. The flight was diverted to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, as Hazmat crews swept the plane for the unknown substance.

One passenger told the NBC affiliate that the mysterious odor was reminiscent of "dirty socks." Others feared it was coming from a chemical on the aircraft.

Once the passengers deplaned, authorities could locate no trace of the substance. “After specific monitoring and hazmat crews entering into the fuselage no substances were found,” Myrtle Beach Fire Department Lt. Christian Sliker told the outlet. “The plane is all clear.”

Fire officials said that seven to 10 passengers were transported to an area hospital in unknown condition. Spirit airlines said they were also investigating the rancid odor, and that they'd sent a supplemental aircraft to pick up the passengers in Myrtle Beach.

According to FlightAware, the plane landed in Florida just under five hours after its scheduled arrival—which, by Spirit's standards, is not even that bad.

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