Plane grounded at Dublin Airport over ‘Ebola prank’
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.
A Dublin Airport Authority spokesman said: “Following a minor security incident on board an Aer Lingus flight from Milan to Dublin, passengers were held on board the aircraft after it landed at Dublin Airport just before 1pm today.
“As a precaution, the incident was fully investigated before passengers and crew disembarked as normal. The incident is now a matter for the gardaí.” According to gardaí, “it was reported that a passenger on board a flight from Milan to Dublin had shown a plastic cup to a flight attendant marked ‘Attentione Ebola’. The flight attendant notified the captain who immediately contacted the Dublin Airport Authority. The Airport Police placed a cordon at the aircraft which was parked at stand. The HSE were notified and the emergency protocols were invoked.
“The aircraft remained on the apron for one hour while three of the passengers were medically examined. Following consultation with the HSE, it was established there was no evidence of a health risk. At approximately 2.15pm the crew and passengers were permitted to disembark and the cordon removed.”
It is believed there was little, if any, panic among the crew and 142 passengers on board.
