The New York Times reports that a man who passed out on a flight on Monday may have died of a heart attack due to Covid-19 complications, after it was determined that United Airlines was helping to contact passengers.
The plane landed in New Orleans on a flight from Orlando to Los Angeles, while one person on board the flight suffered a medical emergency.
While the man was preparing for his cardiac arrest, flight crew members overheard his wife telling the first responders that her husband was experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19. He did not disclose symptoms, including loss of taste and smell, before the flight, according to a Times report.
It was not immediately clear if the man was infected.
“We urge passengers not to travel if they have been diagnosed with Covid-19 or have Covid-related symptoms,” said United Airlines. “If in doubt, the best option is to test.”
The airline was contacted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) following the incident and is complying with its request to provide passenger information, the Times reported.
“We are sharing the requested information with the agency so that they can work with local health authorities to reach out to any customer. The CDC believes there may be a risk of potential infection or infection.”
News of possible COVID-19 contact with passengers spread on social media, with one passenger noting that they did not check the temperature before boarding and that the plane had not changed since leaving New Orleans.
The man behind me on this flight. Died. Secret. Midflight.
I have many questions.
– Jo LaFlame (@JobreOXXX) December 15, 2020
Some people on my plane returning from Disneyworld literally died, the nurse who worked on it during the flight while trying to resuscitate him said he was a secret relative. The family landed on the flight with their main cowardly features..and even after that we didn’t change planes ..
– Shay (Shaylobomosta) December 15, 2020
So I was on this flight too. 1) We never check the temperature because the airport has no station that is bullshit. 2) PPL which says “I believe it was white” no, it did not stop you from trying to bring the race in https://t.co/uH93KmNyfs
– Shay (Shaylobomosta) December 15, 2020
Addressing a lack of action in a statement to the Times, United Airlines said: “The decision to continue in Los Angeles was made after medical professionals initially ruled out an emergency as a cardiac distress. The option to continue going to Angeles was given. All passengers chose to continue. ”
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