Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Flybe flight ‘quarantined’ at Manchester airport

Aircraft pictured surrounded by police

Helen Coffey
Friday 09 August 2019 14:47 BST
Comments
Flybe flight ‘quarantined’ at Manchester airport

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A flight to Manchester Airport has been surrounded by police and reportedly quarantined for two hours after a woman became ill onboard.

Flybe flight BE3122 from Paris landed this morning only to be put on “lock-down” while confused passengers were stranded inside.

Those onboard shared pictures of multiple police vans surrounding the aircraft on social media.

“Currently stranded on the BE3122 flight from Paris to Manchester Airport,” tweeted user Nicholas Visuals, alongside a photo which appears to show at least eight emergency services vehicles next to the plane. He said the flight had landed two hours prior.

“Someone is sick inside,” added @Coin2mire. “Health officers are outside and we have no idea why it’s taking so long... Some kind of a quarantine!”

Travellers said they were “in the dark” about what was happening, with passenger Craig Hawley tweeting that they were all on “lock-down”.

They have since been allowed off the flight, according to @Coin2mire, who tweeted at 12.37pm: “WE ARE FINALLY OUT!”

The woman appears to have been evacuated.

Flybe said in a statement: “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.

“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.”

It is still unclear what illness the female passenger is suffering from.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in