Shortly after taking off from Dubai, passengers on an Emirates Airline plane soon fell ill, causing the plane to be quarantined. Despite initial reports that 100 of the 500 passengers on Flight 203 were sick, the airline confirmed, via Twitter, 10 passengers were sick.
Statement: Emirates can confirm that about 10 passengers on #EK203 from Dubai to New York were taken ill. On arrival, as a precaution, they were attended to by local health authorities. All others will disembark shortly. The safety & care of our customers is our first priority.
Reportedly, the sick passengers and two crew members were coughing, vomiting, and had fevers that were over 100 degrees. According to a New York Times source, there may be about 100 passengers with symptoms.
Upon landing at 9:20 a.m. this morning at JFK Airport in New York City, the plane was quarantined. Ambulances and officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were called to the airport to treat the sick passengers.
Emirates Airline flight 203 from Dubai has been quarantined after landing at JFK Airport in New York after at least 10 passengers reported feeling sick https://t.co/sj6GZhrnhU
Rapper Vanilla Ice tweeted that he was also onboard, but didn’t directly witness the sick passengers because he was on the second floor of the 380 Airbus. He did, however, see all of the ambulances once the plane landed.
This is crazy. Apparently there is over 100 people sick on the bottom floor, so happy I’m up top, it’s a double-decker plane 380
According to Eric Phillips, the spokesperson for the New York City mayor, the 10 confirmed sick passengers are heading to Jamaica Hospital while other passengers are being evaluated by health officials–those who are showing similar symptoms are reportedly being held and will possibly be transported to a hospital. Phillips tweeted that 40 people were cleared to go through customs.
10 sick people off the plane and heading to Jamaica Hospital. Health officials taking others off one by one checking for symptoms. About 40 cleared and going to customs. A few others showing symptoms and being held for treatment and possible transport to hospital. https://t.co/6X0445ivXy
Updated 3:00 p.m.: This post has been updated to reflect Vanilla Ice’s tweets.
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