A Man With COVID-19 Symptoms Died in the Middle of a Flight | 22 Words

A man with COVID-19 symptoms has died of coronavirus while onboard a commercial flight.

Here's what we know so far...

This is an appalling situation that should have been avoided.

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 The unnamed airline passenger tragically died with COVID-like symptoms mid-air.

Now, we all know that face masks have been slowly becoming mandatory on all public transport across the country...

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 And airplanes are at the top of that list.

In an effort to help reduce the spread of the deadly virus...

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 The CDC recommends that people wear masks or cloth face coverings while flying.

Because due to the recycled and filtered air in airplane cabins...

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 If someone carrying the virus coughs or sneezes while onboard an aircraft, any present strain of the virus will circulate at a much quicker speed than it would in any other mode of transport.

This is why most major airlines have made the decision to enforce strict COVID regulations upon all passengers, such as the requirement of face masks.

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 And, if any passenger refuses to wear a protective face covering, the airline withholds the right to escort them from the aircraft.

Yet, despite the efficiency of these face masks...

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 The fact remains that they can't always protect you from the virus.

And this has sadly been the case in this tragic instance.

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 United Airlines is working with the CDC to track down passengers on a December 14 flight from Orlando to Los Angeles after a man with COVID symptoms died mid-air.

Understandably, people have been left outraged by the news.

How was this allowed to happen?

So many restrictions have been put in place...

Just to stop this exact kind of scenario from unfolding.

Many have pointed out the recklessness of the whole situation...

And how many lives have potentially been put at risk, despite the many precautions taken over the last few months.

On the other hand, however, people have been saddened by the news.

Yet another American life has been snatched by the horrifying virus.

The family of the man confirmed that he suffered from high-blood pressure and respiratory issues...

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 And admitted he was feeling sick before boarding the flight to LA.

However, when filling in his pre-flight checklist he failed to declare his symptoms.

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 A United spokesperson said they later determined he "wrongly acknowledged this requirement."

The plane was diverted to New Orleans where the man was taken to hospital...

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 He was pronounced dead on arrival, United said.

The man's wife was heard telling the emergency technician that he did in fact have COVID symptoms.

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 Which including the loss of taste and smell.

Although he wasn't officially diagnosed with coronavirus due to not having a test.

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 "Now that the CDC has contacted us directly, we are sharing requested information with the agency so they can work with local health officials to conduct outreach to any customer the CDC believes may be at risk for possible exposure or infection," United said.

The CDC said it is "collecting information, to determine if further public health action is appropriate."

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 No details have been released about the man in question to protect his privacy.

According to one of the passengers on board the plane, the man was having trouble breathing when she boarded.

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 The airline did not check passengers' temperature before boarding, she said.

The passenger went on to say United did not change planes despite the possibility of others coming in contact with the virus.

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 "At the time of the diversion, we were informed he had suffered a cardiac arrest, so passengers were given the option to take a later flight or continue on with their travel plans," United said.

Our thoughts go out to all those affected in this horrendous situation.

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 For more coronavirus news, keep scrolling to see the moment a fight broke out on a flight over one passenger's refusal to wear a mask...