Investigators from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are currently investigating a plane on the tarmac at JFK International Airport in New York after several passengers became ill.
Emirates Airlines Flight EK203 is reportedly in quarantine as officials determine why at least 10 people have fallen ill on the flight. Earlier reports said the number could have been as high as 100, but that appears to be inaccurate, although the official count has not yet been released.
The flight landed safely at approximately 8:50am ET this morning after taking off from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Before landing, the pilot informed ground control that two male passengers had fevers and that 100 of the 521 passengers on board were “coughing non-stop,” according to early reports.
It’s not immediately clear what kind of illness the passengers may have, and both CDC and Customs and Border Protection are on the scene but have not yet provided an update.
We’ve reached out to the CDC for comment on the ongoing situation and will update when we hear back.
Government officials in Dubai are reportedly blaming “food poisoning” for the incident, though they’re not provided details yet. Passengers are still on board the flight as of 10:32am, though a Twitter user on the flight says that he hopes they’ll be disembarking soon after personnel from the CDC takes their temperatures.
New York Mayor Bill DeBlasio’s press secretary Eric Phillips has tweeted that the flight made a stop in Mecca before continuing to New York and that Mecca is currently experiencing a flu outbreak.
“Early indications point to that as a POSSIBILITY,” Phillips tweeted. “More to come.”
One of the passengers, Larry Coben, has tweeted photos showing people getting off the plane to have their temperatures taken. At 10:44am Coben tweeted video of his ride to the terminal. Presumably, all of the passengers who have been deemed healthy are doing the same.