(CMR) Passengers on a United Airlines flight from Orlando to Los Angeles last Monday could have been exposed to COVID-19 as it has been revealed that a passenger who fell ill and later died displayed signs of having the virus.
Tony Aldapa, a passenger who performed CPR on the man who medical professionals thought had a cardiac arrest, said he was now experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
He, however, has no regrets about helping. Aldapa said:
“I knew the risks involved in performing CPR on someone that potentially has COVID, but I made the choice to do so anyways,”
Aldapa was one of three persons who worked together to offer assistance to the man.
The flight, which had 179 passengers, was diverted to New Orleans, where the man was removed for medical treatment. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Because medical professionals initially ruled the emergency a cardiac arrest, the flight continued to Los Angeles on the same plane.
However, it was later revealed that the man had displayed symptoms of COVID-19, including a loss of smell.
The passenger did not acknowledge that he had any COVID-19 symptoms on the airline's Ready-to-Fly checklist.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now working with United to contact-trace passengers from the flight. Four flight attendants on the flight are now in a 14-day quarantine.
United Airlines has since announced that it will ask passengers for extra contact information in case anyone on their flight comes down with coronavirus.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid