The Jetstar passenger is taken to RPA. Picture: Bill Hearne Source: News Corp Australia
SYDNEY Airport has been thrown into chaos as a medical emergency has forced an emergency landing and evacuation of a plane, leaving passengers stranded.
The plane bound for Darwin was forced to turn back after one passenger fell seriously ill last night.
There are fears his condition is higly contagious after he was met by paramedics, one wearing a protective HAZMAT suit.
The plane landed in Sydney around 12am where quarantine officials examined the plane and the man, aged in his 50s, was rushed to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
He was stetchered into the hospital by paramedics, one of whom was wearing a HAZMAT suit and heavy duty gloves.
BREAKING: Jetstar flight returns to Sydney due to unwell passenger. Paramedics in HAZMAT suits have met flight, patient taken to hospital.
— Chris Urquhart (@chrisurquhart) October 8, 2014
Passengers on board were escorted off the plane and put up for the night in hotels.
A Jetstar spokesman said the man’s medical condition was not contagious and it was not related to Ebola.
“About an hour out of Sydney there was a decision made to return to Sydney because it was the nearest diversion point and a medical situation had emerged on board,” he said.
“A passenger presented fairly unwell and ill they were vomiting and we did some investigating and it was determined they had a pre-existing medical condition.
“We were given advice that in the interest of their well-being that we should turn back so they could get medical treatment.”
He said it was “not contagious or communicable” and there was “no suggestion” it was Ebola.
Jetstar will fly the stranded passengers out tonight on a flight scheduled for the same time at 8.45pm which will fly in addition to the existing flight. They were put up in hotels overnight.
More to come
Originally published as Sick passenger forces landing