Yahoo News Passengers 'quarantined' on plane at Manchester airport after woman becomes ill on board
A plane that landed at Manchester Airport was surrounded by police and quarantined for two hours after a woman became ill on board.
Passengers were left stuck on board Flybe flight BE3122 from Paris on Friday morning and put on “lock-down”.
Confused travellers were left wondering what was happening, before news broke that a passenger had fallen ill.
People on board shared pictures of police vans surrounding the aircraft and specialists arriving in hazmat suits on social media.
Twitter user Nicholas Visuals wrote: “Currently stranded on the BE3122 flight from Paris to Manchester Airport.”
Within a few minutes of a quarantine at Manchester Airport and people are already wildly speculating, with no evidence, it’s Ebola-related
— SpaceYote (@the_yote) August 9, 2019
Speculation grew over the mystery illness, with some claiming the woman had Ebola - although there was no evidence to support this.
Another Twitter user, @Coin2mire,said: “Someone is sick inside.
“Health officers are outside and we have no idea why it’s taking so long... Some kind of a quarantine!”
Finally off the plane. Surrounded by police. Still no update but we’re being transported somewhere else #manchesterairport pic.twitter.com/TtnryyOyH8
— Nicholas Visuals (@NicholasVisuals) August 9, 2019
Nicholas Visuals then tweeted: “Finally off the plane. Surrounded by police. Still no update but we’re being transported somewhere else #manchesterairport.”
Airline operator Flybe said passengers were quarantined as “precautionary measure”.
A spokesperson said: "Flybe confirms that, as a precautionary measure on arrival in Manchester and following a passenger on the above flight falling sick, it has worked closely with the Public Health England to collect the full contact details from all 107 passengers on board.
Read more from Yahoo News UK
Knife crime: Operation Sceptre begins amid surge in violence
'Wannabe hardman' stabbed his friend in the heart, court told
MP questions if teens would have been cleared if they were ‘black pupils’
"This would allow them to be fully traceable if, in what would be a very rare instance, they might need to be uniquely alerted by the authority at some point in the future.
"Flybe sincerely apologises to the passengers for the delay to their travel plans upon arrival and for the inconvenience experienced however the health and welfare of its passengers and crew remain our number one priority at all times."
Public Health England say a passenger had ‘gastro-intestinal symptoms’ and that the risk of infection to other people on the flight is ‘very low’.
The statement read: “Public Health England is aware of an individual that became ill during the flight with gastro-intestinal symptoms.
“The individual was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital for treatment.
“We have undertaken a risk assessment and can confirm that any risk of infection to passengers is very low.
WE ARE FINALLY OUT !!
— Coin2mire (@Coin2mire) August 9, 2019
“We have followed established multi-agency plans and procedures for such incidents. When a risk of infection to passengers is reported, information is sometimes collected from passengers as a precaution.
“All other passengers have been released for onwards travel.”
In a separate statement, Flybe said: “The aircraft, following a deep clean, has also been given the all-clear by the authorities to return back into service as soon as this is completed.”
