Inaba was taken to the ER after she fell ill while on board a flight from Los Angeles to New York.

DWTS judge Carrie Ann Inaba details in-flight medical emergency: ‘This scared me’

Inaba was taken to the ER after she fell ill while on board a flight from Los Angeles to New York.

By Leigh Blickley

April 17, 2026 11:01 a.m. ET

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Carrie Ann Inaba. Credit:

Emma McIntyre/Getty

- Carrie Ann Inaba faced an in-flight medical emergency on Wednesday.

- The *DWTS* judge said she "suddenly felt quite ill" and broke out into a cold sweat before her arms went numb.

- She was escorted off the flight when it landed in NYC and taken to the hospital.

Carrie Ann Inaba detailed a scary in-flight medical emergency she faced on Wednesday while traveling from Los Angeles to New York.

The *Dancing With the Stars *judge, 58, shared her experience in a lengthy post via Instagram on Thursday, alongside video of herself in an ambulance.

"Yesterday was quite a day. I was on my way to NY for something I am very passionate about. But had a small 'medical emergency' on the plane. I very suddenly felt quite ill. And while it seemed like food poisoning, I also suddenly broke out into a cold sweat, got dizzy and my arms went numb," she wrote.

According to *USA Today*, Inaba was heading to NYC for a campaign with pharmaceutical company Novartis to raise awareness for Sjögren's disease, a chronic autoimmune system disorder she has that, per Mayo Clinic, leads to dryness of the eyes and mouth, fatigue, and joint pain.

"Normally I handle most of my health things on my own. Like many people who live with autoimmune disease, I travel with a health tool kit and am prepared for the worst, but this scared me," Inaba continued in her post. "And 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. 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 said a flight attendant immediately assisted her when they realized she was in need of medical care, as did a doctor on board the Delta plane. She also credited fellow passengers for offering her kindness in a scary situation.

Carrie Ann Inaba on 'Dancing With the Stars'.

Disney/Eric McCandless

"Thank you to the kind woman sitting beside me who offered me a mint and gently patted my back when we landed. Thank you to the passengers who had to wait for me before they could disembark for their patience," Inaba shared, also shouting out the paramedics, her friends, and business reps for their support.

She concluded her post, "I'm always thankful for the moments that scare or challenge me especially with my health. They remind me that while I often face my health challenges alone, I am not alone. None of us are. The helpers are everywhere."

** has reached out to Inaba's representative for further information.

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Followers and celebrity friends alike sent Inaba messages of prayer and encouragement on social media, including Kimberly Van Der Beek and *DWTS* alums like Ricki Lake, Chrishell Stause, Kate Flannery, Amanda Kloots, and Shangela.

Inaba was treated at a local hospital and, once stabilized, continued to be administered IV fluids at her hotel. She noted to *USA Today* that while the incident was not connected to her Sjögren's disease, the diagnosis has "taught me the importance of listening to and trusting my body when something doesn’t feel right."

In a statement to the outlet, she shared, "I'm resting up and looking forward to getting back into my advocacy work soon. I'm so grateful to the people who took care of me and helped me through such a scary experience."

Inaba was a host on CBS' *The Talk* from 2019 to 2021 and has served as a judge on ABC's *DWTS* since 2005. She's scheduled to appear at this summer's inaugural *Dancing With the Stars* Con 2026, a convention dedicated to the realty competition series.

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Source: “EW Celebrity”