3 arrested over plane Ebola scare

Emergency protocol kicked in after claim

IRELAND:

Two women and a man have been arrested after a passenger on a flight between Italy and Ireland sparked an Ebola scare.

The Aer Lingus plane, carrying 142 passengers, was put under emergency lockdown at Dublin Airport as medics were called to the scene.

Investigators said one of those on board flight EI433 from Milan showed an air steward a plastic cup marked with the words “Attentione Ebola”.

The attendant alerted the captain, who immediately contacted Dublin Airport Authority at around 1pm.

An emergency protocol kicked in and passengers and crew were forced to remain isolated on board the plane on the runway apron for an hour while three passengers were medically examined.

Airport police placed a cordon at the aircraft, which was parked at a stand.

Ireland’s health service, the Health Service Executive, was also called in but an examination in consultation with experts established there was no evidence of a health risk.

Crew and passengers

Experts said there was no evidence of a health risk

were allowed to disembark and the cordon was removed at around 2.15pm.

Two women passengers, aged 51 and 23, and a 56-year-old man were arrested in connection with the incident.

They were last night being detained under the Air Navigation and Transport Act at Ballymun Garda Station.