JetBlue Slaps Coronavirus-Infected Passenger With Lifetime Flight Ban

Everyone's favorite kind of passenger more than earned this distinction.

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Image via Getty/Boarding1Now

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In a move that will likely anger absolutely no one, JetBlue has announced a lifetime flight ban for the passenger who recently used their services to get from New York City to West Palm Beach while infected with the headlines-dominating coronavirus.

"Last night's event put our crewmembers, customers, and federal and local officials in an unsettling situation that could have easily been avoided, and as such, this customer will not be permitted to fly on JetBlue in the future," a JetBlue rep told People in a statement cited in their report on Friday.

The rep added that, as the CDC has advised, any customer who's "not feeling well" and/or believes they have (or is being tested for) coronavirus should avoid air travel until given the green light by a medical professional.

The passenger in question, who did not inform JetBlue staff or related personnel that he was waiting on coronavirus test results, is reported to have left JFK International Airport and landed in West Palm Beach on Wednesday night. Once the passenger arrived in Florida, he told the flight crew that he had been notified of a positive diagnosis.

"Passengers in the vicinity of the positive patient were advised of monitoring procedures," Palm Beach Fire and Rescue's Capt. Albert Borroto told reporters earlier this week. "The rest of the passengers were released to go home and given directions ... to call the health department with any medical concerns." 

For a rundown of CDC-backed tips on not being gross and/or reckless during the era of COVID-19, head here. 

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