Plane quarantined in NY after passengers fall ill

NEW YORK: An Emirates plane has been quarantined at JFK airport in New York on Wednesday after approximately 100 passengers and crew members reported feeling ill.

The plane, which arrived from Dubai at 9.12am, was immediately taken to a location away from the terminal, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Medical personnel from the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) boarded to assist the ailing passengers, who complained of fever and coughs.

Ten of them were taken to hospital, according to Eric Phillips, a spokesman for New York mayor Bill de Blasio.

Nine others were reportedly feeling sick but refused medical attention.

Health officials were unsure what prompted the illness, but symptoms pointed to the flu, Phillips said.

He said several of the passengers boarded the plane after visiting Mecca, which is experiencing a flu outbreak.

Emirates Airlines issued a statement shortly after the plane landed, saying that 10 passengers had fallen ill and all other passengers would be allowed to disembark soon.

But only about half of the passengers had exited the plane and been cleared to continue travelling by 11.30am, according to the mayor’s office.

Video taken from inside the plane after it landed showed a tense scene, with airline employees urging passengers to stay out of the aisles.

“Worst flight ever Dubai to NYC; plane was basically a flying infermary (sic),” tweeted one passenger.

“Many of these people should never have been allowed to board. Now sitting on the ground after 14-hour flight unable to leave.”

The woman also posted video of passengers who appeared to be getting their temperatures checked by medicalmask-clad officials.

The Port Authority said all passengers were being screened by US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP).

“The Port Authority Police Department and Port Authority airport operations staff are coordinating closely and providing support to the CDC and CBP as necessary,” the agency said in a statement.

The New York Police Department counterterrorism bureau confirmed it is monitoring a “medical situation” at the airport.

The CDC said in a statement that it is aware of passengers who reported an “unspecified illness”, and is investigating. – The Independent