Carrie Ann Inaba Hospitalized After Mid-Flight Medical Emergency

Carrie Ann Inaba, a longtime judge on the television show Dancing With the Stars, experienced a medical emergency aboard a Delta flight from Los Angeles to New York City on April 15, leading to her transport to a hospital upon landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

The incident occurred as Inaba traveled for an advocacy campaign with pharmaceutical company Novartis to raise awareness about Sjögren's syndrome, an autoimmune disorder she has publicly discussed for years. Inaba, who has served as a judge on the show since its debut season in 2005, began feeling unwell mid-flight. She described symptoms including sudden dizziness, nausea, a cold sweat, and numbness in her arms, which she initially suspected might be food poisoning.

Locked in the airplane restroom during turbulence, Inaba hesitated to seek help to avoid endangering others, as flight attendants were required to remain seated. However, the numbness prompted her to press the call button. A flight attendant responded despite the conditions and recognized the severity of the situation. Two onboard medical professionals, identified by Inaba as JD and Dr. Shin, examined her, provided reassurance, and advised her...