IndiGo passenger reveals he is Covid-19 positive minutes before take-off: Report

IndiGo flight 6E-286 flying from Pune to Delhi on Thursday had to make an emergency U-turn before it even took off. Why? Just before it was about to take off, a passenger on the flight declared that he had tested positive for Covid-19.

The flight was preparing to take off when the passenger allegedly told the cabin crew he had coronavirus, showing them the documents, after which the pilot alerted ground controllers about the situation and decided to return, an NDTV report said.

The passengers around the infected person were escorted to a containment area while the flight was disinfected and seat covers were changed. After the safety precautions, the remaining passengers were provided with PPE kits before the plane took off again, the report said.

DH could not independently verify this report.

Domestic passenger services resumed on May 25 after nearly two months of suspension to combat the coronavirus outbreak.

Along with the limits on airfares, the government had asked the airlines to operate no more than 33 per cent of their pre-Covid domestic flights. On June 26, the cap was increased to 45 per cent and was gradually raised to 80 per cent. The ministry said on Thursday that the 80 per cent limit would remain in place till March-end.

The aviation sector has been significantly impacted due to the travel restrictions imposed in India and other countries in view of the coronavirus pandemic.