Sick passenger wearing a mask and gloves on a flight from JFK to Palm Beach ‘received call saying he had coronavirus just moments before plane took off’

  • A passenger who caught a JetBlue flight from New York to Palm Beach had reportedly been told he tested positive for coronavirus before the plane took off
  • Passengers were forced to remain on Flight 253 for almost two additional hours as the aircraft remained on the tarmac at the Palm Beach International Airport 
  • The flight landed at 8.53pm from John F Kennedy International Airport in New York City and passengers were allowed off the aircraft at 10.45pm 
  • ‘The person across the way from me was taken to the back of the plane,’ passenger Scott Rodman said
  • Rodman added of the man’s wife: ‘She said he had gotten a phone call with his test results right before we had taken off’ 
  • Agents with the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County assessed the situation and spokes with all the passengers aboard the aircraft
  • They provided them with measures to take in the event they were having symptoms
  • There are already more than 1,300 cases of the virus in the US and 38 people have died 

By Matthew Wright For Dailymail.com

Published: 13:44 GMT, 12 March 2020 | Updated: 14:19 GMT, 12 March 2020

A passenger who caught a JetBlue flight from New York to Palm Beach has tested positive for coronavirus, Florida officials announced early on Thursday.  

Passengers were forced on Flight 253 for an almost additional two hours as the aircraft remained on the tarmac instead of proceeding to gate C12 at the Palm Beach International Airport.

The flight landed at 8.53pm from John F Kennedy International Airport in New York City and passengers were allowed off the aircraft at 10.45pm, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue explained to WPTV. 

 

Passengers were forced on Flight 253 for an almost additional two hours as the aircraft remained on the tarmac at the Palm Beach International Airport

Passengers were forced on Flight 253 for an almost additional two hours as the aircraft remained on the tarmac at the Palm Beach International Airport

‘The person across the way from me was taken to the back of the plane,’ passenger Scott Rodman said. 

‘He was wearing masks and gloves. His wife was sitting in the same row as me and mentioned to others that he wasn’t feeling well. 

‘She said he had gotten a phone call with his test results right before we had taken off, implying that he had a positive test but not actually saying it.’ 

Agents with the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County assessed the situation and spokes with all the passengers aboard the aircraft

Agents with the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County assessed the situation and spokes with all the passengers aboard the aircraft

Agents with the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County assessed the situation and spokes with all the passengers aboard the aircraft

Agents with the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County assessed the situation and spokes with all the passengers aboard the aircraft. 

Passengers who had been in close proximity with the man were also advised of monitoring procedures and given instructions of how to get in contact with the health department if they had any issues. 

The airport is sterilizing the area where the passengers deplaned, adding that it was in a separate area than the main terminals of the airport.  

There are already more than 1,300 cases of the virus in the US and 38 people have died. 

There are already more than 1,300 cases of the virus in the US and 38 people have died

There are already more than 1,300 cases of the virus in the US and 38 people have died

There are already more than 1,300 cases of the virus in the US and 38 people have died

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