An Emirates Plane Landed at JFK With Dozens of Sick Passengers

An Emirates plane that arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport Wednesday morning from Dubai had over 100 passengers feeling ill, according to NBC New York. At least 19 people have been confirmed sick.

Emirates Flight 203 was quarantined on the runway at JFK for hours after many of the 521 passengers—and some crew—reported feeling ill. The Verge says that the passengers had fevers over 100 degrees, while The New York Times reports that there were also instances of vomiting.

The office of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says that 10 of the sick passengers have been taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, while the remaining nine declined medical attention. The Centers for Disease Control is investigating the issue but de Blasio’s office says that symptoms are pointing to the flu.

Emirates Airlines posted to its official Twitter account: “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.”

All of the passengers have been able to exit the plane and 432 have been cleared to continue their travels.

Erin Sykes, one of the passengers aboard the flight has posted numerous videos on Twitter of the events on the plane. She added in a comment, “People were sick before we even took off from Dubai. Like really nasty colds. I asked [the] stewardess for a mask [before] we even took off but there were none.”

Rapper and actor Vanilla Ice was also on the flight, noting on his Twitter account that the illness was apparently contained to the lower floor of the Airbus A380; being on the second deck, he was seemed unaware of the events below.

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