TV Personality Carrie Ann Inaba Hospitalized After Mid-Flight Medical Emergency

Carrie Ann Inaba was transported to a hospital after experiencing a sudden medical emergency during a flight to New York, prompting assistance from crew members and an onboard physician before paramedics took over upon landing.

“Yesterday was quite a day,” Carrie Ann Inaba wrote in an Instagram post published April 16, alongside a video documenting the aftermath of the incident. The footage shows the “Dancing With the Stars” judge lying on a stretcher inside an ambulance, as well as brief clips from inside a hospital room where she received treatment.

Inaba explained that she had been traveling for a project she described as “very passionate,” when her condition changed abruptly mid-flight. “I very suddenly felt quite ill,” she wrote. “And while it seemed like food poisoning, I also suddenly broke out into a cold sweat, got dizzy and my arms went numb.”

She continued by describing how the situation escalated as she attempted to manage the symptoms on her own. “Normally I handle most of my health things on my own,” she wrote, noting that she travels with a “health tool kit” due to ongoing medical conditions. “But this scared me.”

The post details how the episode unfolded during a period of turbulence, which temporarily limited access to assistance. “While I was locked in the restroom, we were also experiencing turbulence and the flight attendants had been asked to sit in their seats as well,” she wrote. “I didn’t want to have anyone else put themselves at risk … but when my arms went numb, it was time to ask for help.”

Inaba added that she ultimately received aid from both the flight crew and a medical professional onboard. After the plane landed, emergency responders transported her to a nearby hospital. In the caption, she expressed gratitude to first responders “who treated me with care and respect in a scary moment even when my blood pressure dropped.”

“I’m always thankful for the moments that scare or challenge me especially with my health,” she concluded. “They remind me that while I often face my health challenges alone, I am not alone. None of us are. The helpers are everywhere.”

Inaba, 58, has spoken publicly about living with autoimmune conditions, including Sjogren’s syndrome, which can cause a range of symptoms affecting energy levels and overall health. She noted in her post that while she is accustomed to managing such challenges, the incident marked a departure from her typical experiences.

A longtime fixture on “Dancing With the Stars,” Inaba has served as a judge since 2005. In addition to her work on the show, she has built a career as a dancer, choreographer, and television host.