Alaska Airlines Flight Diverted After Chemical Smell Fills Galley

SANTA ANA, CA — Passengers and crew on an Alaska Airlines headed from Portland to Orange County experienced a "strong chemical smell" from the back galley, an airline official said.

There were 146 people and five crew members on board the flight from Portland to John Wayne Airport was safely diverted to Los Angeles International Airport Friday evening, Alaska Airlines External Communications Director Bobbie Egan said.

Flight 1154, an Airbus A320, was about 30 minutes from Orange County when crew members reported the smell, according to Egan.

"Out of an abundance of caution, the crew declared an emergency for priority handling and landed safely at LAX at 7:46 p.m.," Egan said. "We've removed the plane from service and maintenance technicians are inspecting the aircraft."

The plane landed on runway 24-right, according to Nicholas Prange of the Los Angeles Fire Department, which responded and tended to at least two people "who had some medical complaint."

Both patients were examined and released at the scene, and no one was taken to a hospital, he said. There was no smoke on the flight deck.