A Long Island man who flew from New York to Florida tested positive for coronavirus, prompting a thorough cleaning at JetBlue’s Kennedy Airport terminal and leading to the man’s ban from the airline, officials said Thursday.
The infected patient, a Nassau County resident, didn’t tell JetBlue he was awaiting results of a coronavirus test, the airline said.
The passenger left John F Kennedy International Airport and landed at West Palm Beach on Wednesday night.
He only alerted flight attendants of his condition after JetBlue Flight 253 landed in West Palm Beach about 9 p.m. Wednesday, officials and a witness said.
“When he was sitting on the plane, he got a phone call or a text message that it was a positive test,” passenger Scott Rodman told CNBC. “It’s kind of wild, if you have gotten tested, to go on a plane.”
On arrival, the passenger told the crew that he’d been notified the test was positive and cleaning immediately started for the areas he went through based on security camera footage, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said. They included gates, security checkpoints, check-in counters and kiosks, elevators and restrooms, CNN reported.
“Last night’s event put our crewmembers, customers, and federal and local officials in an unsettling situation that could have easily been avoided, and as such, this customer will not be permitted to fly on JetBlue in the future,” the airline said in a statement Thursday.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has asked people feeling unwell, those who believe they may have coronavirus or those who are awaiting test results to avoid travel until they are cleared by a medical professional.
All health guidelines were followed for the patient and passengers aboard the flight were assessed, said Capt. Albert Borroto of Palm Beach Fire and Rescue, which responded to the scene.
“Passengers in the vicinity of the positive patient were advised of monitoring procedures. The rest of the passengers were released to go home and given directions … to call the health department with any medical concerns,” he said.
