Passengers quarantined after reports of sickness

A commercial jet from Dubai prompted a largescale emergency response at New York’s Kennedy Airport yesterday after a pilot reported several passengers and crew members were complaining about having a flu-like illness.

The Emirates flight arriving with 520 passengers yesterday was swarmed by police vehicles and ambulances and immediately quarantined for an assessment by the US centres for disease control and prevention.

Passenger Erin Sykes posted video of officials wearing masks and gloves taking the temperature of passengers on the tarmac.

Ms Sykes said she saw a few passengers being taken off the plane first for medical attention, but she added that “many, many” others were showing signs of illness.

Describing the scene, she said: “Very intense coughing. Violently sick. Going into the bathroom a lot.”

A spokesman for New York mayor Bill de Blasio said ten people were taken to hospital and eight were treated at the airport.