Pilots Reported "Tingling Sensation" In Hands And Feet

A Northwest Airlines flight en route to Cleveland from Minneapolis diverted to Grand Rapid Michigan Wednesday night after the pilot and co-pilot reported feeling a "tingling sensation" in their hands and feet. Neither crewmember required hospitalization, though one was taken off the aircraft on a stretcher.

Television station WOOD reports that the decision to divert to Grand Rapids was made after the pilots reported feeling light-headed. An airport source told the station that there were concerns about cabin pressure, but an FAA spokesperson said she was not aware of carbon monoxide being detected in the cockpit, which had been reported earlier by local media.

The flight landed at Gerald R. Ford airport at 1823 local time, and passengers were boarded on a different plane at about 1940. Passenger  Patrick Phelps, who did not board the second plane, told the station that the pilots came on the intercom after landing to say they had felt the tingling, and to ask if any of the passengers had had a similar sensation. The said they had not. The pilots also said they had used oxygen in an attempt to relieve the sensation, but it hadn't worked.

The FAA is investigating the incident.

FMI: www.faa.gov