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Flight diverted to Boston after passenger complains of flu-like symptoms

E-mail|Link|Comments () May 1, 2009 05:35 PM

(Wendy Maeda/Globe Staff)

The plane and the truck that refueled it before it resumed its journey.

By Martin Finucane, Globe Staff

A United Airlines flight from Munich to Washington made a two-hour stop at Logan International Airport this afternoon so a female passenger who had complained of flu-like symptoms could be removed and taken to a hospital for treatment.

Flight 903, a Boeing 777 with 245 passengers and 14 crewmembers aboard, landed at 1:46 p.m. and resumed its journey at 3:45 p.m. after the passenger had been taken by ambulance to Massachusetts General Hospital.

A hospital spokeswoman said the woman had been treated and released from the hospital by late afternoon.

Rahsaan Johnson, a United Airlines spokesman, said the woman had reported symptoms that were "indicative of the flu or severe cold." He said the flight crew radioed for advice to a United medical team and were advised to get her immediate medical treatment. Local television stations broadcast footage of a woman wearing a blue mask being led off the plane by emergency personnel.

The incident happened at a time of worldwide concern about the spread of the swine flu.

But Johnson said the diversion was for the woman's health and safety. "In this case, the medical professionals thought that she should get immediate care," he said.

Asked whether there was any chance that the woman could have infected others on the plane, Johnson had no comment. Asked if officials were concerned about the possibility, he said, "There is never a time that we're not concerned with the health of all of our customers."

"Based on what the crew knew of this customer's symptoms and based on what United [ground-based medical experts] knew, we thought taking the plane to Boston was the best course of action," he said.