Flight from Dubai quarantined in NY amid mystery illness, 521 on board

Enlarge / An Emirates Airbus A380 (credit: Getty | NurPhoto)

Update 9/5/2018, 12:55 ET: Eric Phillips, press secretary for New York's mayor, has reported on Twitter that all 521 passengers have been evaluated and are now off the plane. A total of 19 people are sick. Ten of those went to a local hospital while the remaining nine declined treatment. "Health officials are processing tests now to determine the cause. Symptoms still pointing to the flu," he wrote. Emirates Airline has not yet confirmed the total number of sick passengers or provided any further information to Ars. This story will be updated as more information is available.

Original story: Emirates Airline has confirmed that “about 10 passengers” have fallen ill from an unidentified illness on flight 203, direct from Dubai to John F. Kennedy Airport in New York, where the plane is currently being held under quarantine.

The Airbus A380 arrived shortly after 9am ET this morning, carrying 521 passengers, according to the New York City mayor’s office. Local media outlets initially reported that around 100 passengers reported feeling ill. Images of the plane shared by media and Twitter users show it in a standing area, away from any terminal, surrounded by ambulances and police.