Hawaiian Airlines Plane Declares Emergency Due To Pepper Spray

A flight was forced to call for a priority landing in Hawaii Friday after pepper spray illegally brought onboard was triggered, causing over a dozen people to be treated for respiratory issues.

According to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Hawaiian Airlines Flight 23 was en route to Maui from Oakland when passengers at the front of the plane reported an odor and subsequent breathing issues.

As the 256 passengers on board were moved to the back of the plane, the flight crew declared an emergency and gained priority clearance to land at Kahului Airport. When emergency personnel arrived on the scene following a safe landing, 12 passengers and three of the 10 flight attendants were treated and released with respiratory issues.

Police investigating the incident determined the cause of the breathing problems was a leaking can of pepper spray that was brought on board illegally by a passenger. Pepper spray is banned in carry-on bags by the Transportation Security Administration.

While Federal Aviation Administration representatives interviewed the passenger to determine how the pepper spray through the security checkpoint at Oakland International Airport, Hawaiian awarded all impacted travelers on the flight a $500 credit.