Flight Traveling From Nigeria Diverts To Island
[Updated w/Health Ministry's comment about possible Ebola concern]
A Delta airplane — which was traveling from Lagos, Nigeria to Atlanta — diverted to Bermuda this morning [Sept 4] due to a sick passenger, and it landed at 3.35am local time, and departed a short while later, with the sick passenger still onboard.
Typically when flights divert to the island the passenger is taken off and placed in an ambulance and taken to hospital, and in this case officials have declined to state why the passenger was not taken off, but did state the person was suffering from a suspected stroke and confirmed they were not disembarked in Bermuda.
Whether this scenario was prompted by the Ebola outbreak is unclear.
This is the latest in a series of diversions, following after a JetBlue flight which diverted on September 1st after reports of smoke in the cockpit, a Norwegian airline flight on August 29, the rerouting of a flight due to a mentally ill passenger on August 20, a diversion of a Thomas Cook flight due to a sick passenger on August 19, an American Airlines flight that diverted due to a medical emergency onboard on August 12, a United Airlines flight that made an unexpected stop in Bermuda due to a sick passenger on August 9, and a JetBlue flight which diverted to the island on July 11.
In addition, the Royal Caribbean cruise ship, Oasis Of The Seas, diverted to the island on September 3rd after a passenger on board took ill.
Update 10.27am: The online flight trackers we generally use do not show this flight in the same manner they normally show all diversions, however we did confirm the flight’s origin/destination, time of landing and the fact the passenger was not disembarked with local officials, and have asked them for additional information and will update if able.
Update 1.39pm: The Ministry of Health, Seniors and Environment said that “out of an abundance of caution, it was decided that the passenger should be kept on the aircraft until the EMT’s received Personal Protective Equipment [PPE] appropriate for dealing with a possible Ebola infection.
“Before the PPE was obtained, Emergency Responders were advised by the airline representative that the aircraft would continue to its destination,” the Ministry added.
The full statement is below:
Shortly after 3am this morning the 911 Emergency Dispatch Centre received a call regarding a flight diversion due to a medical emergency. An ambulance from KEMH responded and Bermuda Fire Rescue Service staff were standing by.
Upon meeting the aircraft, having learned that it had originated in Nigeria [a region currently being affected by the Ebola outbreak], emergency responders began the process to determine whether or not there was a risk that the passenger could have been infected by Ebola.
Preliminary reports indicate that, out of an abundance of caution, it was decided that the passenger should be kept on the aircraft until the EMT’s received Personal Protective Equipment [PPE] appropriate for dealing with a possible Ebola infection. Before the PPE was obtained, Emergency Responders were advised by the airline representative that the aircraft would continue to its destination.
The ambulance waited at the airport until the flight departed and returned to KEMH around 5:30am.
It is understood that the flight landed in Atlanta early this morning.
The Department of Health’s Surveillance Committee can advise that the incident is being reviewed by Public Health, Emergency Services and Airport Operations.
hope the person is okay but Bermuda can not afford an ebola outbreak. Keep thier sick germs on that plane and keep going. STOP stopping in Bermuda!
I agree, if they made it this far out to Bermy, im sure they couldve continued on to ATL.
Ebola is a serious virus that could spread globally if not contained soon! Bringing flights like this one to our little island, from one of the newest infected countries Nigeria, doesnt seem like the best idea in the world.
Ebola is starting to spread globally slowly … it takes one wicked person with it … affected people may begin to bleed both within the body and outside the body … the start of symptoms (incubation period) is 8 to 10 days …. panic will set in when someone comes here with it .
The passenger on this airline is not wicked. He or she may have been ill but this has nothing to do with character or morality. And it has yet to be confirmed if this passenger is infected with Ebola. It was certainly sensible for emergency responders to take all necessary precautions. Ebola is spread through human-to-human transmission, with infection resulting from direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and indirect contact with environments contaminated with such fluids. It is not airborne. Yes, we need to be vigilant and cautious when it comes to any contagious disease. We also need to be reasonable and not jump to conclusions.
You might want to read the latest findings – ebola is indeed airborne – just not AS airborn as other viruses…don’t believe the myth. the authorities (whomever they are) do not want this to become public knowledge – you can imagine why.
Wow, snow bunny, huh , what a thought process.
I agree, just like de Europeans wiped out de Native Americans with their diseases.
Do you ever have anything constructive to contribute to ANY conversation?
No he doesnt hes a racist ass who nobody takes seriously anyway. Funny how he spouts all the crap he does hiding behind a computer screen lmao. Prob quiet as a mouse out in the real world. And he still spells his name wrong lol.
the not de
….and not even remotely comparable.
you’re nothing but a kunta…
Kunta – a
I love how upset you make people by stating facts. They love to say it was so long ago and to get over it so why can’t we talk about it? It was so long ago, right? Why be so uptight about it then. They committed those atrocities and nothing can change that fact.
@ Tell the Truth, its like having a family member that’s an embarrassment to you, you want to disown them but they’re still got ties to you.
Actually Kunt/a , in case you didn’t know ( which is highly likely) the American Indians sent the Europeans home with a little ‘gift’ of their own called syphilis .
Ya ,that’s what they get for raping de squaws.
LMFAO
“Lmfao” – in the same posting as “raping de squaws” …..??? Really ?
@ Toodle-oo:They also lied and said Columbus discovered The Americas. You obviously can’t trust the Europeans with everything they say…
Ya and that’s what in their History books say, which should state de “first European to discover” which goes to show you de Psychological F!@# ups that been perpetrated for centuries and Black People bought into it and still buying into it. SMFH
P.S.
But don’t elaborate on it too much or you would be labeled a RACIST .
LMFAO
Oh just for clarification, Columbus was lost when he stumbled on de Americas, he was trying to find a short cut to India but wasn’t aware of de Atlantic Trade Winds (which by the way was called de Ethiopian Sea), that’s how de Natives of America got de name Indians !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let me guess Kunt/a . You really , really believe that Africans discovered (stumbled on) America 3000 years before the Europeans did . And there’s tons of evidence to back that up besides your wishful thinking.
LMAO
Ok dreamer school’s gonna start early, being that you have access to a computer instead of trolling and talking S— you can Google the word “OLMEC”, I wouldn’t expect an apology but you know how de commercial goes, you can learn a lot from a dummy.
The dummy your referring to did provide researchers with useful information.
Not like your wishful thinking revisionist history imaginations though.
LMAO
Ahh I guess de “OLMEC” information proved you wrong AGAIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry Charlie
Next
LMFAO
If they were “wiped out”, how come there are still many Native Americans today?
Before Columbus STUMBLED on de Americas there was an estimation of 12 million Native American Indians and about 75%-80% of them were killed from European diseases and when they found out that the Native American Indians were not cut out for the hard laborious tasks and a intolerant immune system guess who was next on de list?
Why assume that was the reason. There was probably a good reason for not having the passenger disembark. Was not necessarily that.
Perhaps he recovered at lower altitude and the plane got clearance to fly at lower altitude, or perhaps they were pronounced dead.
Thank you for the update Bernews.
I hope that you are not the next sick person that needs urgent attention for your “sick germs”.
you gotta be freaking kidding me. Seriously? In this epidemic of Ebola, you let some sick person from that region divert here? WHO THE HELL HAS COMMON SENSE NOWADAYS????????
Probably done on purpose!!!!!!!!!
Did you read the article? they did not let him/her off the plane!
EBOLA is just a plane ride away!!
As harsh as that decision to not allow the sick person into our jurisdiction, I believe it was an excellent choice by our authorities. An ounce of prevention is better then a cure.
This island has to be very careful, getting all these diverted flights, you will never know who has what when it comes to Ebola … and this island really can’t afford to take risk ..
Bermuda is a very wealthy island nation. They can WELL afford to protect themselves. Bermuda doesn’t even pay taxes, for Pete’s sake.
The virus is spread through direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with blood and body fluids (urine, feces, saliva, vomit, and semen) of a person who is sick with Ebola, or with objects (like needles) that have been contaminated with the virus. Ebola is not spread through the air or by water or, in general, by food; however, in Africa, Ebola may be spread as a result of handling bushmeat (wild animals hunted for food) and contact with infected bats.
you couldnt be farther from the truth…IT IS ALSO AIRBORN NOW. The strain has mutated…i will post the truth for you.
I actually got that from googling the disease. So if I am wrong than abc is wrong
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/transmission/?..
ur sources are prefabricated …the CDC. knows exactly of wat i speak…hmmm things they dont want you to know about .
sadly you’re far from the truth if ebola was airborne faaaaaaaaaaaaar more people would be infected and would have been dead by now so in this case you’re wrong however most of the time you do provide good information
i appreciate that you feel that most of the time i do provide good information, i’m hopeful that many more,even if silent, feel the same…i’m just curious as to why you think i’m wrong here…did the documentary i provided not do anything for you or..?
yes incorrect info from any mass media organisation…or the CDC… do you think they want mass hysteria on their hands ..?? die in silence fool…
You tube… Really. I correct where I got my info. Wasn’t abc. Was the cdc…
That’s bologna! You are just being an alarmist. Ebola is FAR from being airborne. If it was, it would be wider spread than it already is. You are just trying to panic people. Nice.
You do realize that the American doctors who were over there got the disease even though they had full protective gear on right? I mean its only been on the news for months now so you’d be incorrect.
And they have since been released…cured…….hmmmm….Is what they were given readily available for others??????
Man made disease just like AIDS….They say that aids came from monkeys….so where did the monkey get it from…….
I am greatful however, that they erred on the side of caution by not letting the sick individual off the plane…as you never know….it is better to be safe than sorry……
It seems very strange to me that Bermuda has become a dumping ground for International and American flights with sick people.
Don’t get me wrong but when folks are in need they should be assessed and isolated especially in this case where it’s origin was from the Ebola capital of the world.
Shalom.
Why does it seem strange that the only island for 700 miles in one direction and 2000 miles the other way would get a few unexpected visitors?
Terry, it’s “its”, okay? And btw I agree with the others that you are a sad individual!
Wow!! Who pissed in your cuuffee (coffee).
Its 0k (O).
“sad”. Yom mmeen sayad………
Gotta love a*********………………
Idiot
There are only 17 confirmed cases in Nigeria, hardly the ‘Ebola capital of the world’.
It probably seems that way to you because you only hear of the flights that land here. Many other places get medical emergency landings but the local media is hardly going to report a medical emergency landing in the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, etc.
Bermuda is only about 850 miles away from American coastline. That’s probably one of the main reasons. Convenience.
It would be interesting to get more information from the Department of Health about this incident. In the unlikely event that this may have been an Ebola case, keeping it out of the country was indeed the right choice, though it would put a great risk to the planes passengers and crew, but if it is a stroke case as was speculated, the fact that they did not debarked the passenger means that it may have been minor could wait to get better treatment in the US. In either case,the passenger would have most likely been flown out anyway, I just wonder if any local medical personnel stayed on board to aid the passenger till they get to Atlanta?
I agree with you Build a Better Bermuda – in the absence of information we are prone to speculation… which we need to keep to a minimum given the generally combative spirit in the country these days. Why the secrecy? Why not say exactly what the situation was with the sick passenger? We are entitled to this information.
To say there was secrecy on this might be a bit of a stretch, there are of course the requirements for medical confidentiality. The statement does indicate that the EMT’s attending were taking precautions, but it was ultimately the decision of the airline to continue on. Could have been an overreaction on the part of the airline personnel. Well done to our first responders any medical staff that attended this, it has been a busy month for them at the airport.
I highly doubt there was much of a concern for Ebola as Delta, United, Emirates and other high profile international airlines continue to operate in and out of Nigeria. If the USA were seriously concerned about an Ebola outbreak they would issue a mandate not to allow US Airlines to fly into suspected regions.
That being said, it was irresponsible and discriminatory not to allow the passenger to receive medical treatment. I know for a fact that the flight attendants who work for Delta would NOT fly 12 hours from Lagos-Atlanta with over 200 passengers unless necessary precautions were put in place to mitigate Ebola exposure.
Poor decision not to allow the passenger off the aircraft to receive medical treatment!
Sorry ‘Yes I’ but the officials made the right decision! It was not ‘irresponsible and discriminatory’ at all. We don’t know what symptoms the person had-for all we know they could have been violently vomiting with a headache and fever which are symptoms of Ebola, which may have prompted officials to turn the person away.
Bermuda is way too small to mess around with this. I feel sorry for the sick person but we can’t take any chances. The officials did the right thing-we aren’t under any obligations to save the world; why are sick people always getting dumped here???
This is not an “official’s decision”. It is a medical decision and symptoms should have indicated stroke not Ebola. The poor patient was effectively denied treatment in Bermuda. Permanent damage is likely to result thanks to this, and the additional time wasted on the ground by the airline. All very embarrassing. Shameful.
Delta still flies to Nigeria because of the $$$$$$$$MONEY$$$$$$$$$…you think they care about your health or mine…WAKE UP $$$$$$$$$$$$$!!!!!!!
Your point is well taken, however that also implies that the Governments of the world do not care about your health or mine which would collapse any discussion about Ebola outbreaks in the first place. Therefore ‘truth’, I would advise that you wake up.
Build a Better Bermuda your response is spot on and not having seen it before my original post, seeing it from that angle I retract my statement regarding it being a poor decision.
Cash rules everything, ok! They do not care about your health, its all to do with money. On a side note… lets think about this, do you really think they haven’t found a cure for cancer? We can go to the moon, build planes that defy gravity but cant find a cure for a dieseas that kills 8 million people yearly and diagnosis another 14 million yearly? You aren’t fooling me. If you really think the W.H.O cares about you, let alone that airlines or even your government- please STOP. #WakeUp
Totally irrelevant and off topic. You’re argument is flawed and hollow. All I hear is whining.
I would advise you wake up and open YOUR eyes…Governments time and time again have decimated populations for the good of themselves. Look at what is happening in Syria right now, Russia and Ukraine. You are a lamb for the slaughter! Governments protect themselves not the people at large!!
THE OFFICIAL TERM IS DEMOCIDE….
for an up close look at how diverse this method of population reduction is stick around for a while (if you can) and study how the black population in this island will decline over the next decade. – poor health (generally), low wages (unable to buy and or keep land), will be their undoing – helped along by government policies designed to make it economically impossible for them to keep up and a large influx of non-natives that will naturally dilute/displace the native citizens.
we could call it economic democide – or politicide if you will…
i am of a mixed race and have studied quite closely how governments going back in history “peacefully” remove members of the populace they deem “unfit, unnecessary or simply unwanted”. the OBA are currently executing this playbook quite nicely – not my words
please do not throw the race card on the table PLP and OBA
sheeple…I am sorry if you are unwilling to digest the hard truth. study the history of this “politicide” and the truth we are witness to presently will hit you hard in the gut.
shalom according to Terry
God help us all – according to me…
Another nutcase comes out of the woodwork.
typical conformist answer…you WILL see but it will be too LATE….see yahhhh
Says the guy telling us that ebola was “created for a reason”.
I posted a sugesstion some weeks or so ago to turn the clinic lamb foggo into that for sick passenger only and for the first point of entry for returning residents from away for up to 3 weeks from arriving in bda ! and i was crusified for saying kenya was congo my mistake ! how ever! I again say lets ask for help from the mother country! asap in the form of a floating hospital ! to care for the posibility of ebola as Bermuda is in a priviliged area of the world i can see that not assiting the passenger is bad pr ! but as a greater responsibility to as all visiting and locals alike the decision to not let them disembark here was for the greater good of the country ! just in case of it! is better to prevent than lament ! how ever a specialised medical unit should be available to deal with situations as this ! again a military floating hospital is needed i do not pretend to know what is being done i also believe that Bermuda has a very good system in place and i would hate to be a witness of something that gets out of control as Ebola has proven so far! i hope for a speedy recovery of the passenger in the airliner and ask of people not to judge in bad light those that made the decision for what ever reason not to allow the passenger of the plane to disembark.
Maybe the passenger found out what sort of medical facilities there are here and decided to take his chances in Atlanta instead. That is what i would do.
Then why dont you take your a up and out of Bermuda for good? Why risk your life with our lowly medical facilities you dumba. No one asked you.
Lol.
Way to scare the sh!* out of me again and again bernews!
LOOK LISTEN LEARN…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnQVUf775VE
Some ignorant people on this blog I swear. Ebola? Ask the CDC all about it and the other biological weapons deployed in Africa. They know what it’s all about, but obviously many of you do not. Also, smh, do you all realize that Nigeria is over 1000nm away from the countries that have this “outbreak”? Similar distance as London to Athens, Greece, or NYC to Orlando? Folk are too easily manipulated by mass media, both local and global. Research for yourself as there is no excuse in this tech age for ignorance based on manipulation. Better yet, try to just THINK about it!
Ebola in Nigeria – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/alert/ebola-nigeria
The purpose of this alert is to notify travelers that a small number of Ebola cases have been reported in Lagos and Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and to inform them of …
if u smart enough look it up!
you can’t save the lost brah! they should research WHO really is the CDC…hahaha..any information released by them is choreographed mish mush.
Believe it or Not.
Check if he swallowed balloons of heroin
This nonsense has to stop. Why all these diversions to Bermuda recently? Sounds suspicious to me and this latest one is the most startling. Of course no word on why or what happened. Either because its bad or like usual the authorities are too incompetent and slow to relay the information.
Because Bermuda gets paid. It’s all about the M-O-N-E-Y
There is no big conspiracy here, we are the only speck of land with a runway able to handle wide body aircraft in the area so of course we are going to get diversions. The airlines have a duty of care that if a passenger is sick they have to get them medical attention and last I checked ambulances do not meet you at 35000 feet over the Atlantic. To be fair the powers that be should never have allowed the aircraft to land here if no medical attention was going to be given and a NOTAM should be issued stating that aircraft originating in Ebola effected regions will not be allowed to land here unless the souls on board are in peril (ie on board fire/uncontained engine failure)
Well said Bermy.
you’re right, there is no conspiracy, only reality, but don’t get distracted, Ebola was created for a reason.
So , according to you Ebola was created for a reason .
I can’t wait to hear your conspiracy theory on that . I bet it ties into a similar theory you have about AIDS too .
But like all great conspiracies it wont be backed up with any evidence whatsoever . Just misguided personal opinion.
you mean just like what you just wrote…?? I unlike YOU never make a statement or comment with out proven factual evidence and i will state if i am making my own personal opinion, so that there will be no confusion for people like you…and YOU are the one using the word “conspiracy”, i agreed with Bermy that it was no conspiracy…only NON- truthers or NON-believers use that word…as for the aids virus… you just continue believing that it comes from eating bush meat…hahahaaa btw havent humans been eating bushmeat from day 1…chaa mon a well educated person such as yourself still needs direction…this is the point im always trying to make about the difference between EDUCATION and INTELLIGENCE, please folks do not confuse the two.
i will post a video about the origins of the aids virus , but i will not force you to believe its your decision to make…not mines.
I totally agree @Bermy. The Captain also made a costly diversion seemingly prematurely if upon landing, the passenger was deemed able to continue to travel.
Yes, and to the critics put yourself into the patient’s place. Bad publicity for Bermuda and our medical profession. Don’t they have an emergency plan for this? Just hope the patient doesn’t have permanent damage dir to the Bermuda dither.
Garbage Bermy.
It will and did land in Atlanta.
Oh gee REALLY? Thanks for this breaking news you gullible sheep. Ambulances don’t meet you at 35000 feet? You don’t say! NY or ATL aren’t that far…they can keep going. I’m not just speaking of this one case either so learn how to read. Exactly my point Einstein they shouldn’t have been allowed to land anyway but keep thinking everything is kosher.
This is terrible. There is a short time period after a stroke before permanent damage occurs. That poor man. Ebola does not present as a stroke, and I assume that there are measures taken in Nigeria to ensure that passengers are not infected, especially on a US airline.
Chingas bye NIGERIA…you know what’s going on der with that EBOLA VIRUS!! You go on board…no you go on board…I ain’t going on board…no you go on board…alright, alright…I’ll get some masks and breathing apparatus for you…(Meanwhile plane captain is looking on going WTF)…(Short time later)”Ladies and gentleman…please put your trays and seatbacks to an upright position…we’re carrying on to our previous destination…Bermuda Tower please clear 30 for take off!”
One ounce of safety is worth a pound of cure !
Thank you for the information. I think the action taken was entirely appropriate and the cautious approach warranted.
Agreed Kim. Bermuda needs to be as cautious as possible
It would be interesting to know how the passenger was met by medical personnel in Atlanta. Were they fully geared up or was Bermuda just paranoid?
Why would somebody call someone who is ill wicked. Even if it was Ebola regardless that human being needed assistance. Bermuda does not exist in a vacuum. You are part of the global community. Ignorant people need to read more and get the facts right. Have compassion. One day it could be you or your loved one. Life has a way of throwing the same curve balls at everyone.
What don’t we stop all flights from the countries where Ebola is present, why would anyone want to fly there anyway! Let them keep there diseases there we have enough!
Amen, I can’t believe the US government is still allowing flights from Lagos to enter US its only a matter of time now im afraid.
What is the protocol then if a Bermudian passenger arrives on island with any semblance of symptoms? Hope this particular passenger survived and is in good health.
Utube any of the above info…..seeing is believing…
1st Off AMERICA OWN The Pattern For The Ebola Virus., In Other Words They OWN The Virus. Please Believe It’s All a Population Control Thing. There Is Wicked People in Control Of This World. That Virus Just Don’t Pop Up Out The Blue., In Other Words IT WAS PLANTED IN AFRICA. Thousands Of Africans Dead., Only 3 Americans With The Virus CURED Think About It
Stfu! Every single Bermudian has a right to know what happened and whether we were almost subjected to ebola you moron!! If its none of my business its none of yours either and YET here you are reading about it too. Again, stfu!