Pepper spray in carry-on bag sickens a dozen passengers
A mid-air incident causing several passengers and crew to fall ill was the result of the accidental discharge of banned pepper spray.
A dozen passengers and three flight attendants began suffering respiratory problems after the leakage happened about three hours into a flight from Oakland to Kahului, Hawaiian Airlines said.
A baby also threw up.
Although permitted in checked bags, it is banned by the TSA from carry-on luggage.
TSA officials are investigating the incident along with Maui police, and the passenger carrying the pepper spray on board may face fines of up to $13,000.
The pepper spray seems to have been contained in an unmarked canister not detected at TSA passenger screening.
According to passengers, ‘all of a sudden’ people in the front of the plane began coughing and finding it difficult to breathe.
Passengers in first and premium economy were instructed to move to the back of the plane for about 40 minutes until it was safe to return to their seats.
"Everyone was afraid," affected passenger Nicholas Andrade told Hawaii News Now.
All passengers requiring medical assistance on arrival were later released.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025