Plane In Quarantine At JFK Airport After 10 Passengers Fall Seriously Ill

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An Emirates plane at JFK airport is in quarantine after 10 of the passengers on board have fallen seriously ill. 

The flight landed at the New York airport from Dubai, with 500 people on board. Rather than heading for a terminal, the plane was directed to a hard stand area, where authorities could tend to those who were ill.

There has been some speculation that the passengers have food poisoning, while one passenger from the plane suggested that those who were ill were already sick before getting on the plane.

Emirates released a statement about the situation on Twitter, which read:

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.

Those who fell ill were ‘immediately checked by local health authorities’, with the Emirates flight crew loaded on to ambulances at the scene.

CBS reports that three passengers have been transported to hospital.

The Centres for Disease Control met the plane at JFK, and explained in a statement that they were aware of passengers who reported an ‘unspecified illness’, and were working with local authorities to investigate.

Some of those on board who are not unwell have been sharing images of the situation on social media and expressing their frustration at not being able to leave the plane.

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One passenger wrote:

@emirates worst flight ever Dubai to NYC; plane was basically a flying infirmary. Many of these people should never have been allowed to board. Now sitting on the ground after 14 hour flight unable to leave. @EmiratesSupport #emirates #worstairline

Another explained:

All we have been told is that some passengers have fallen ill and we should remain in our seats.

Those on board were asked to fill out of CDC card entitled Passenger Locator Information Page, after which it seems the passengers were allowed to deplane.

An Emirates customer named Larry Coben shared updates, explaining that he had his temperature taken after getting off the plane.

He went on to share a video of passengers heading to the airport terminal, where authorities held them on a bus while they debated whether to let the customers inside.

Finally, Larry tweeted that he was through airport security and on his way home, along with others from the previously quarantined flight.

He wrote:

Happy to report that I am through customs and on my way home. Others as well

Hopefully those who fell ill will recover soon.

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Emily Brown

Emily Brown first began delivering important news stories aged just 13, when she launched her career with a paper round. She graduated with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University, and went on to become a freelance writer and blogger. Emily contributed to The Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Student Problems before becoming a journalist at UNILAD, where she works on breaking news as well as longer form features.