An emergency landing in New York was required Wednesday after a possible pressure problem on a SkyWest Airlines flight from Chicago.
Before the emergency landing in Buffalo, one person lost consciousness, The Associated Press reported.
The flight carrying 75 passengers departed from O'Hare International Airport and was bound for Bradley International Airport in Connecticut when it landed at Buffalo Niagara International Airport at about 11:40 a.m., according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration.
The FAA said the crew of the Embraer E170 reported a possible pressurization problem.
But SkyWest spokeswoman Marissa Snow said the plane didn't appear to have a pressurization problem and the oxygen masks did not release.
She said one passenger aboard Flight 5622, operating as United Express, lost consciousness, and the pilots rapidly descended "out of an abundance of caution." That is the standard move if a plane loses pressure because of the higher oxygen content at lower elevations.
For nearly eight minutes, the plane descended at a very steep incline, at times dropping as fast as 7,000 feet per minute, according to flight tracking service FlightAware.
SkyWest said the flight landed safely in Buffalo, and the passenger received medical attention before being released. The airline said it was making plans to transport the passengers to Hartford.
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