Smell Of Dirty Socks Forces Plane Flying Out Of NYC To Land Early

QUEENS, NY — A Spirit plane headed from New York City's LaGuardia Airport to Fort Lauderdale was diverted to South Carolina Thursday night after an odor developed in the aircraft that reportedly smelled like "dirty socks" or a "strange, burning odor," according to news reports and an airline spokesman.

Several passengers on the flight were checked out by medical professionals and have since been cleared to continue their journey, the spokesman said. A replacement plane was sent to Myrtle Beach to pick up the stranded guests.

Seven to 10 passengers on the flight complained of medical issues, the Myrtle Beach Fire Department said on Twitter. A total of 220 passengers were evacuated from the flight, and those who felt ill were taken to local hospitals after an initial decontamination.

The fire department was called to the airport for a potential hazmat incident around midnight, but officials said no hazardous substances were found "after extensive monitoring of the aircraft."

According to NBC New York, some passengers said the smell that forced the flight to divert was like dirty socks. One passenger told Local 10 in Miami that the smell was like a burned wire

Spirit said it is investigating the source of the odor.

"We apologize for the inconvenience this diversion has caused," the airline said in a statement. "At Spirit Airlines the safety of our Guests and Crew is paramount."

Story by Feroze Dhanoa, Patch National Staff

Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images News/Getty Images