A United Airlines flight en route to Boston from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport was compelled to make an unscheduled landing in Washington, DC due to a biohazard incident on board. The incident, which occurred on Sunday morning, led to crew members falling ill and passengers requesting masks.
Flight 2477 was forced to land prematurely at Washington Dulles Airport after a passenger fell ill, causing a biohazard situation. The severity of the situation escalated when crew members and other passengers began to feel unwell, leading the pilots to request an emergency landing.
Radio traffic from the pilot revealed the gravity of the situation. A crew member was heard stating that the situation in the cabin was dire, with crew members vomiting and passengers requesting masks. The crew member further emphasized the urgency of landing the plane as soon as possible due to the biohazard situation.
Upon landing at Washington Dulles Airport, none of the 155 passengers or the six crew members required medical assistance. The plane was then subjected to a thorough cleaning process to ensure the safety of future passengers.
United Airlines confirmed the incident, stating that the aircraft was undergoing a deep clean and that efforts were being made to get passengers to their destination as soon as possible. The airline did not provide further details about the nature of the biohazard or the condition of the passenger who initially fell ill.
This incident underscores the importance of maintaining high health and safety standards on flights, particularly in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It also highlights the challenges faced by airlines in managing unexpected health emergencies mid-flight.