Man dragged off plane after getting positive coronavirus test | Video

This is the dramatic moment a passenger was kicked off a flight after he got a text saying he had COVID-19, minutes before the plane left London.

Video has captured the moment a passenger was dragged off a Ryanair flight by hazmat-clad officials after receiving a text telling him he had tested positive for coronavirus, moments before departure.

The man and his friend were taken off the plane in front of shocked passengers minutes before it was due to fly from Stansted Airport in London on Wednesday, local time.

Flight attendants disinfected their seats and the overhead cabins and the plane was eventually able to fly to Pisa, Italy nearly two hours behind schedule.

“A passenger who boarded a flight from London Stansted to Pisa on August 26, received a text message notification before departure that he had tested positive for COVID-19,” a Ryanair spokesman said.

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Workers in full hazmat suits escorted the passenger off the plane. Picture: Twitter/@fionnmurphy10

“The passenger and his travel companion were immediately offloaded and taken to a Stansted Airport isolation area where they were assisted by local public health authorities.

“Since this passenger and his companion had complied fully with Ryanair health regulations, they were both wearing masks at all times at Stansted Airport and for the very short period (less than 10 minutes) they were seated on the aircraft prior to departure.

“There was little if any risk of COVID-19 transmission to other passengers or crew members as all of whom were also wearing face masks at all times.

The infected passenger had just discovered he had COVID-19 via text moments before departure. Picture: Twitter/@fionnmurphy10

“The aircraft departed for Pisa following a delay of 1 hour and 20 minutes to allow for the empty seats and overhead cabin bins to be disinfected to comply with all UK health authority guidance. Ryanair apologises to all passengers for this short delay.”

Video filmed by a horrified passenger showed three people dressed in protective gear approaching the passenger and his friend.

Other passengers were told to stay in their seats as the infected man was approached.

A flyer took an audio recording of one of the crew members explaining what happened – it starts halfway through a sentence but confirms “COVID-19 on board”.

The plane was cleaned as horrified passengers remained in their seats. Picture: Twitter/@fionnmurphy10

“(The) Captain said that before you probably didn’t understand because the radio was very low,” they said.

“They are taking this person out, OK, and then we can depart.

“There is no need for self-isolation, OK, when we arrive in Pisa because the Government doesn’t require self-isolation from the UK and no test, OK.

“This is for now the information that we have.”

A Stansted Airport spokesman confirmed the incident in a statement.

The incident happened minutes before the plane was due to leave London. Picture: Twitter/@fionnmurphy10

“The airport were made aware of the passenger by the airline and our fire service attended the aircraft and escorted the passenger (and travel partner) to an isolation area where they were put in contact with Public Health England, who then oversaw the passenger’s onward journey,” the spokesman said.

According to UK rules, if the passenger received the text message before boarding the plane, he had broken coronavirus quarantine rules.

It is unclear if the passenger had symptoms.

Anyone travelling from the UK to Italy does not currently have to quarantine upon arrival, due to the air bridge arrangement between the countries.

The area around the infected passenger and his friend was cleaned. Picture: Twitter/@fionnmurphy10

Staff advised other passengers to stay in their seats. Picture: Twitter/@fionnmurphy10

NHS England has told people with symptoms or awaiting a test result to stay at home.

“If you are getting a test because you have symptoms, you and anyone you live with must stay at home until you get your result. Anyone in your support bubble must also stay at home,” their advice reads.

A passenger on the flight posted a photo to Instagram showing her and a friend wearing masks.

“The face when you are about to take off and someone gets a text from track and trace,” she captioned the photo.

It’s understood no further action was taken once the plane landed in Italy, and no other passengers were required to self-isolate.

Passengers claimed that police boarded the plane before it took off from Stansted.

The Sun Online has contacted Public Health England and Essex Police for comment.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission