Turkish Airlines Plane Forced To Fly Home Empty After Singapore Coronavirus Case.


A Turkish Airlines aircraft was flown back to Istanbul without any passengers on board on Thursday on orders from authorities in Singapore after a passenger who had arrived on the same plane on Tuesday tested positive for coronavirus.

The infected passenger was not Turkish and transited through Istanbul en route to Singapore from another location, a Turkish aviation official told Reuters, adding there were 143 passengers aboard the flight, as well as three pilots and 10 crew members.

Singapore’s aviation regulator said that the pilots and crew of flight TK54 that had arrived on Tuesday were on the return flight to Istanbul, where they would be placed in quarantine. The aviation official said the crew tested negative for the virus in Singapore.

“The crew had come into close contact with a passenger on flight TK54 who subsequently tested positive for COVID-19,” the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said in a statement.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in contact with the Turkish Embassy, which has confirmed that the crew will be quarantined upon arrival at Istanbul,” CAAS said.

Singapore’s transport ministry said in a statement on its website that authorities had begun tracing passengers on flight TK54 that may have had contact with the infected person.

Singapore had 112 confirmed cases of coronavirus, but a large majority of the patients in the city-state have recovered and been discharged from hospital.

It will be interesting to also note that the only confirmed case of Corona Virus in Nigeria is from an Italian national who travelled to the country via Turkish Airlines. Effort are underway by both the Nigerian and WHO to trace passengers who boarded the same flight.

   

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

AMERICAN TO LAUNCH FIRST SERVICE TO BRISBANE

Image
American Airlines will launch its inaugural flight from Dallas Forth Worth Texas to Brisbane, Australia. The services are schedules from October on the 787-9 aircraft and will operate daily. American is also launching daily services to Veracruz, Mexico in June, and a new daily service to Rio de Janeiro in October. American senior vice president of network and planning Brian Znotins said in a statement “American is thrilled to grow our international network to give customers more ways to escape the cold next winter.” Brisbane and the state of Queensland are known for their beautiful beaches, world-famous zoos and a vibrant cultural scene. This new service will make it easier for travelers from the United States to experience all that this region has to offer. Tickets for the new service to Brisbane will be available for purchase starting February 5 on aa.com and the American Airlines mobile app.This announcement marks a significant expansion in American Airlines’ service, providing more
Read more

An Argentinian Low-Cost Carrier Has Become the First Airline in the World to Allow Passengers to Resell Their Tickets.

Image
  The Argentinian low-cost carrier Flybondi has become the first airline in the world to allow passengers to resell their tickets and, in the process, earn a cut of any profit made by selling the ticket for a higher price than it was originally sold for. Similar to how concert ticket vendors like Ticketmaster have allowed resales for years, Flybondi has introduced a new platform from travel technology startup TravelX to introduce a similar concept for airline tickets. The system works by creating an NFT ticket alongside the original ticket, which is stored on the blockchain. The two tickets are synchronized and have the same fare rules, seat numbers and itineraries, allowing Flybondi to trace the NFT ticket even as it is resold or transferred to someone else. The technology currently allows resells up to 72 hours before departure, enabling both Flybondi and TravelX to earn a transaction fee whenever the ticket changes hands. Normally, airlines strictly forbid reselling tickets, but Fly
Read more

Etihad Airways and Turkish Airlines Extend Codeshare Agreement to Unlock African Destinations.

Image
  Etihad Airways and Turkish Airlines have recently expanded their codeshare partnership. This expansion which came into effect on August 24, 2023, is set to benefit travelers by offering seamless travel options to three key destinations in Africa. Under this enhanced codeshare agreement, Turkish Airlines will operate selected services with the Etihad code on the following routes: Istanbul to Abidjan (Twice weekly) Istanbul to Douala (Four times weekly) Istanbul to N’Djamena (Twice weekly) The codeshare arrangement enables passengers to enjoy the convenience of booking their entire journey on a single ticket, with the assurance of world-class service from both airlines. The addition of these African cities to the codeshare network represents a strategic move by Etihad Airways and Turkish Airlines. Africa is a region of immense economic growth and cultural diversity, making it an attractive destination for both business and leisure travelers. By tapping into this market, the airlines ar
Read more