JetBlue BANS passenger from flying with airline again after he took a flight from JFK Airport knowing he was waiting for a coronavirus test result that then came back positive on board

  • The man boarded flight from JFK airport to Palm Beach, Florida, on Wednesday 
  • 114 passengers forced to remain onboard for two hours to be given instructions
  • Footage shows health official telling passengers they don't need to self-isolate
  • Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

JetBlue has banned a passenger from flying with them again after he boarded a plane knowing he was waiting for coronavirus test results which came back positive during his journey.

The man got a text confirming his diagnosis after he boarded the flight from John F Kennedy International Airport in New York City to Palm Beach International Airport, Florida, on Wednesday.

Vast swathes of the country are shutdown as the US confirmed 1,700 cases and 41 deaths from the killer bug. 

The plane's 114 passengers were forced to remain on Flight 253 for two additional hours while they were given instructions on what procedures should be taken.

JetBlue has banned a passenger from flying with them after he boarded a plane knowing he was waiting for coronavirus test results which came back positive during his journey. But other passengers (pictured disembarking the flight) were not told to self isolate

JetBlue has banned a passenger from flying with them after he boarded a plane knowing he was waiting for coronavirus test results which came back positive during his journey. But other passengers (pictured disembarking the flight) were not told to self isolate

The plane's 114 passengers (pictured getting off the plane) were forced to remain on Flight 253 for two additional hours while they were given instructions on what procedures should be taken

The plane's 114 passengers (pictured getting off the plane) were forced to remain on Flight 253 for two additional hours while they were given instructions on what procedures should be taken

The infected man and his wife were taken off from the back of the plane. 

An airline spokesman told The New York Post on Thursday: 'In reviewing last night’s event, we determined the customer boarded our flight knowing he was awaiting results for a coronavirus test without disclosing it to anyone at JetBlue.

He added: '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.' 

Agents with the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County assessed the situation and spokes with all the passengers aboard the aircraft (pictured on the tarmac)

Agents with the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County assessed the situation and spokes with all the passengers aboard the aircraft (pictured on the tarmac)

Footage taken at the time shows a Florida health official telling passengers that they were 'free to walk around and move around' after the man tested positive. 

Dr. Alina Alonso instructed the passengers to monitor themselves, highlighting how anyone who feels sick will need to contact the appropriate entities.

'At this point, you're free to walk around and move around because most likely you are not going to have anything because there was no activity,' she said in footage obtained by Pix11. 

Officials with the Florida Department of Health spoke with passengers at the at the Palm Beach International Airport on Wednesday night after the man tested positive with the virus

Officials with the Florida Department of Health spoke with passengers at the at the Palm Beach International Airport on Wednesday night after the man tested positive with the virus

'The way you get this virus is someone has to cough or sneeze on you.'     

Alonso then asks the passengers if the man had coughed or sneezed on anyone, to which several people could be heard exclaiming 'no.' 

A man can be heard asking Alonso if they can go 'out,' to which she responds that she is not telling them to stay 'home.' 

Another passenger on the plane claimed the man's wife told him they had been told of the result before take off.

The flight landed at 8.53pm and passengers were allowed off the aircraft at 10.45pm, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue explained to WPTV.

'The person across the way from me was taken to the back of the plane,' passenger Scott Rodman said. 

'He was wearing masks and gloves. His wife was sitting in the same row as me and mentioned to others that he wasn't feeling well. 

'She said he had gotten a phone call with his test results right before we had taken off, implying that he had a positive test but not actually saying it.'

'At this point, you're free to walk around and move around because most likely you are not going to have anything because there was no activity,' Dr. Alina Alonso said in footage

'At this point, you're free to walk around and move around because most likely you are not going to have anything because there was no activity,' Dr. Alina Alonso said in footage

Agents with the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County assessed the situation and spoke with all the passengers aboard the aircraft. 

Passengers who had been in close proximity with the man were also advised of monitoring procedures and given instructions of how to get in contact with the health department if they had any issues. 

The airport is sterilizing the area where the passengers deplaned, adding that it was in a separate area than the main terminals of the airport.  

There are already more than 1,400 cases of the virus in the US and 38 people have died.