Frontier Airlines has removed from service and quarantined an Airbus A320 after a passenger who flew on the aircraft tested positive for the Ebola virus.
The aircraft, tail number N220FR, operated Frontier flight 1143 on 13 October from Cleveland to Dallas/Fort Worth International airport, says the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The following day, a healthcare worker on that flight tested positive for Ebola after reporting to a Dallas-area hospital with a fever, the CDC says.
Early on the morning of 15 October the CDC notified Frontier that the patient had taken the flight.
“Customer exhibited no symptoms or sign of illness while on flight 1143, according to the crew,” says Frontier. “Frontier responded immediately upon notification from the CDC by removing the aircraft from service and is working closely with CDC to identify and contact customers who may traveled on flight 1143.
The aircraft is roughly 1.5 years old and had accumulated 3,351h as of 30 June, according to the Ascend Online database.
Frontier leases the aircraft from Aviation Capital Group.
“Frontier will continue to work closely with CDC and other governmental agencies to ensure proper protocols and procedures are being followed,” according to the airline.
Frontier says the aircraft remained overnight at Dallas after arriving from Cleveland on 13 October, and “received a thorough cleaning per our normal procedures which is consistent with CDC guidelines.”
The aircraft was also cleaned the following night in Cleveland, Frontier says.
Frontier could not be immediately reached to say how long the aircraft might be out of service.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
