10-13-14: Passengers of Emirates flight speak out after health scare
BOSTON (
MyFoxBoston.com) -- Five passengers who were removed from an international flight at Logan Airport after presenting flu-like symptoms on board do not have any infections "of public health concern," the Boston Public Health Commission said Monday night.
Emergency crews responded to the health situation on Emirates Flight 237 when it arrived at the gate from Dubai at 2:30 p.m. Five passengers were experiencing flu-like symptoms, according to the Massachusetts Port Authority. Emergency responders, wearing protective clothing, entered the plane to assess the passengers and help them off the plane. State Police said the two passengers with fevers were removed from the flight first.
All five sick passengers will be taken to area hospitals. The two with a fever have been taken to Boston Medical Center, the other three have been taken to Massachusetts General Hospital.
None of the passengers have recently been to West Africa, Massport said, and the Boston Public Health Commission stated the patients "do not meet the criteria for any infections of public health concern, including Ebola, meningococcal infection, or MERS."
Just after 5 p.m., the rest of the passengers and crew on the flight were allowed to deplane, and cleared customs.
Hanna Banhassi sat in the row in front of some of the sick people.
"We were traveling, and I kept hearing coughing and coughing," she said. "And when we landed, we didn't know. They told us there was some kind of emergency."
