You can add Ebola to subjects such bombs or terrorists as things you shouldn't joke about on an airplane, as a hazmat crew was sent to meet a flight arriving in the Dominican Republic after a passenger's joke about the deadly disease backfired.
As US Airways Flight 845 approached for its landing, a passenger who sneezed said, "I have Ebola. You're all screwed," according to Dominican press reports.
An official with the airline said a passenger apparently yelled out, "I've been to Africa."
Another passenger who overheard the comments told one of the plane's flight attendants, who alerted the pilot, and after the plane landed it was halted on the runway "due to a possible health issue on board," US Airways said in a statement.
The flight attendant informed the passengers what was about to occur as the hazmat team in blue protective suits prepared to board.
"It's going to look worse than it is," she announced over the plane's PA system. "I've done this for 36 years. I think the man that has said this is an idiot, and I'll say that straight out. If you hear me that's fine."
Several minutes after the hazmat team entered the aircraft, a male passenger was escorted off amid several "boos" from passengers.
"I was just kidding," the man can be heard to say in a video captured by another passenger's smartphone. "I ain't from Africa."
He was escorted to the medical center in the airport for examination, after which medical personnel confirmed he had no signs of fever.
Dominican Republic authorities finally cleared the aircraft and allowed passengers to disembark.
US Airways said the use of a hazmat team by Dominican authorities was in accordance with accepted procedures.
"We are following the direction of, and strictly adhering to, all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines in place for airlines in response to the Ebola virus," it said in its statement. "The flight was checked by officials and cleared. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused, but the safety of our customers and employees is our first priority."
In a previous incident, a plane arriving in Newark, New Jersey on a flight from Belgium was also met by a hazmat team and an ill passenger triggered fears he might be suffering from Ebola.
The passenger was later tested and found not to have Ebola.
The incidents came as the U.S. government is implementing plans to begin health screening of passengers arriving from West Africa at five major U.S. airports.
