Counter-Terror Police ‘Monitoring’ Emirates Plane at JFK as 100 People Reportedly Fall Ill
Passengers have been quarantined on board an Emirates airplane at JFK airport in New York, after 100 reportedly fell seriously ill during a flight from Dubai.
Emirates Flight 203 from Dubai arrived at 9 a.m. ET Wednesday with the pilot expressing concerns over dozens of passengers sick with fevers over 100 degrees F (37.7 C) and coughing, according to local reports.
The plane was met by officials from the Port Authority Police and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a staging area to check passengers.
Cabin crew deplaning. pic.twitter.com/rZWYSk448Y
— Larry Coben (@LarryCoben) September 5, 2018
Monitoring what appears to be a medical situation at JFK airport. We are working with the Port Authority and our Federal partners. pic.twitter.com/HisKnrqXst
— NYPDCounterterrorism (@NYPDCT) September 5, 2018
BREAKING: An Emirates plane is in quarantine at JFK Airport awaiting CDC officials after as many as 100 passengers became ill, some with fevers over 100 degrees and coughing. Flight 203 had just arrived from Dubai. https://t.co/1Goiubjp43
— KATU News (@KATUNews) September 5, 2018
NYPD Counter-terrorism said it was “monitoring” the quarantine in case the incident progressed above a medical situation and that it was working with the Port Authority and Federal partners.
Passengers are now reportedly filling out disease control forms on board pic.twitter.com/QxYGp9pPmV
— CBC News Alerts (@CBCAlerts) September 5, 2018
The aircraft is not going to a terminal, instead being directed to a hard-stand area as emergency medical response teams investigate the cause of the illness.
BREAKING: An Emirates A380 in quarantine at JFK Airport right now awaiting CDC officials after about 100 passengers became ill with fevers over 100 degrees and coughing. Flight 203 had just arrived from Dubai. pic.twitter.com/lyUgNbMaEW
— Sam Sweeney (@SweeneyABC) September 5, 2018
Photographs tweeted by passengers inside the plane show dozens of ambulances and police vehicles parked and waiting as the aircraft landed.
One passenger, Larry Coben, said: "All we have been told is that some passengers have fallen ill and we should remain in our seats."
He tweeted that he had seen "no evidence of illness", but added that Flight 203 has "two levels".
Emirates flight crew being loaded into Ambulances at JFK Airport after about 100 become ill with temperatures over 100 degrees on flight from Dubai. Aircraft remains quarantined. pic.twitter.com/5zXrgGpBu3
— Sam Sweeney (@SweeneyABC) September 5, 2018
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.
— Emirates Airline (@emirates) September 5, 2018
The airline meanwhile said the number of people who were sick is much lower. It said that it can only confirm 10 people were taken ill.
While the cause of the illness remains unknown, local reports on the ground from a source briefed on the situation believe it may be food related. However, this may change with new information provided by the CDC.
