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Flight From Dubai Quarantined At JFK Airport, Several Reported Sick On Board

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – A plane from Dubai landed at JFK Airport and was held away from the terminal under quarantine after several passengers on board reported feeling sick.

The Emirates Airbus A380 arrived at Terminal 4 and was met by the Centers for Disease Control and Port Authority police. Three passengers have been transported to a local hospital.

Emirates Flight 203 landed in New York Wednesday shortly after 9 a.m. with 500 people on board.

FlightAware: Emirates Flight 203

Shortly before 10:30 a.m., Emirates Airlines said only 10 passengers from Dubai had taken ill. Previous reports estimated the number of sick passengers at closer to 100 people.

"On arrival, as a precaution, they were attended to by local health authorities," it said. "All others will disembark shortly. The safety & care of our customers is our first priority."

The flight did not go to a terminal but was directed to a hard stand area as emergency medical response teams investigated the cause of the illness.

A government source briefed on situation said there was no evidence of a security or terror issue. Emirates' home office told U.S. officials it believes this incident was caused by food poisoning.

Eric Phillips, spokesman for Mayor Bill de Blasio, posted that the plane had made a stop in Mecca and passengers may have been exposed to a flu epidemic underway in the city.

Other travelers at JFK also posted updates from the airport:

Photos from Chopper 2 showed the flight crew on the ground meeting with officals.

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Emergency vehicles surround Emirates Flight 203 in a holding area at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York on Sept. 5, 2018. (credit: CBS2)
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Emergency vehicles surround Emirates Flight 203 in a holding area at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York on Sept. 5, 2018. (credit: CBS2)
emiratesflight203atjfkc
Emergency vehicles surround Emirates Flight 203 in a holding area at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York on Sept. 5, 2018. (credit: CBS2)
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Emergency vehicles surround Emirates Flight 203 in a holding area at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York on Sept. 5, 2018. (credit: CBS2)

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