Flight Was En Route To Connecticut, Diverted To Buffalo, New York

Three passengers aboard a SkyWest flight from Chicago to Connecticut reportedly lost consciousness during the flight, prompting the pilot to divert his airplane from its planned route and making an unscheduled landing in Buffalo, New York. 

Fox News reports that, according to a spokesperson for SkyWest, one passenger aboard the airplane operating as a United Express was initially found to have lost consciousness, and the pilot made a rapid descent from cruising altitude "out of an abundance of caution." Later, spokeswoman Marissa Snow said it was determine that three people had passed out during the flight.

The descent was reportedly very steep and lasted about eight minutes. The rate of descent was as high as 7,000 feet per minute, according to FlightAware.

All three passengers were treated after arrival at Buffalo Niagara International Airport and released. Some other passengers requested medical attention at the gate, but none was transported to a hospital.

There was no indication of any pressurization problem aboard the jet, and the oxygen masks did not release from their compartments during the flight. The incident is under investigation.

 (Image from file. Not incident airplane)

FMI: www.ntsb.gov, www.faa.gov