© 2024 Blaze Media LLC. All rights reserved.
Frontier Airlines: CDC Now Says Ebola Patient May Have Had Symptoms ‘While Onboard the Flight’
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 15: People check in at the desk for Frontier Airlines in Terminal E at Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport where Frontier Airlines has gates October 15, 2014 in Dallas Texas. It has been reported that the second healthcare worker, Amber Vinson , to contract the Ebola virus had taken a commercial Frontier Airlines flight from Cleveland, Ohio to Dallas, Texas, a day before become symptomatic. Stewart F. House/Getty Images

Frontier Airlines: CDC Now Says Ebola Patient May Have Had Symptoms ‘While Onboard the Flight’

"[M]ay have been symptomatic earlier than initially suspected..."

Frontier Airlines said late Wednesday night that the company had been notified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that the Ebola patient who flew on their airline may have had symptoms while aboard the flight.

In a letter to employees, Frontier Airlines CEO Dave Siegel said he "was notified by the CDC that the passenger may have been symptomatic earlier than initially suspected; including the possibility of possessing symptoms while onboard the flight," according to WEWS-TV.

People check in at the desk for Frontier Airlines in Terminal E at Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport where Frontier Airlines has gates October 15, 2014 in Dallas Texas. It has been reported that the second healthcare worker, Amber Vinson , to contract the Ebola virus had taken a commercial Frontier Airlines flight from Cleveland, Ohio to Dallas, Texas, a day before become symptomatic. (Stewart F. House/Getty Images)

The CDC had previously said that the nurse "exhibited no signs or symptoms of illness" while on the flight, but said they still wanted individuals who were on the flight to contact them. In a statement, Frontier had echoed that and said their crew didn't observe any signs of illness from the patient.

"In light of the new information, Frontier determines that the aircraft will remain out of service and ferries it back to Denver from Cleveland without customers," Siegel added in his letter to employees. "The flight departs at 6:20 p.m. EDT and arrives in Denver at 7:20 p.m. MDT."

[sharequote align="center"]"In light of the new information, Frontier determines that the aircraft will remain out of service..."[/sharequote]

"In an abundance of caution, it is determined that the aircraft will receive a fourth cleaning since the infected customer was onboard," he continued. "Though not required, this cleaning will consist of the removal of seat covers and carpets in the immediate vicinity of the passenger seat. The airline will also change the environmental filters onboard."

Neither the CDC or Frontier Airlines returned emails from TheBlaze seeking comment Wednesday night.

Follow Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) on Twitter

Want to leave a tip?

We answer to you. Help keep our content free of advertisers and big tech censorship by leaving a tip today.
Want to join the conversation?
Already a subscriber?