Plane grounded at Dublin Airport over ‘Ebola prank’

An Italian man is due in court today after an Aer Lingus plane went into lockdown in Dublin Airport when a prank by some passengers sparked a brief ebola scare.

EI 433 arrived 17 minutes ahead of its 1.15pm scheduled landing yesterday, but remained on the tarmac when it emerged someone had written “Attentione Ebola” on a plastic cup. The authorities were immediately contacted and passengers were only allowed disembark after medical checks on three passengers.

Gardaí then arrested three Italians — two women, aged 51 and 23, and the 56-year-old man — and took them to Ballymun Garda station for questioning. Gardaí said last night that the man is expected to appear in court this morning. The two women were released without charge, after all three had been questioned under the Air Navigation and Transport Act.