Travelers on LAX flight notified of possible exposure to COVID-19 after the death of 14 passengers

LOS ANGELES (KABC) – Los Angeles County health officials are notifying passengers aboard a United Airlines flight en route to LAX that they may have been exposed to COVID-19 after a fellow passenger crashed during the flight and died of the virus has.

United Flight 591 was on its way to LA from Orlando on December 14th. It was diverted to New Orleans due to a medical emergency after a passenger had a heart attack.

The man died in a hospital.

Last week, a report by the Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office in Louisiana confirmed that the 69-year-old LA resident had died of COVID-19 and acute respiratory failure.

RELATED: United passenger on flight to LAX dies of COVID-19, respiratory failure, says coroner

United Airlines confirmed on December 18 that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had contacted him.

“At the time of the diversion, we were informed that he had a cardiac arrest, so passengers were given the option to take a later flight or continue with their travel plans,” according to the airline. “Now that the CDC has contacted us directly, we are sharing the requested information with the agency so that they can work with local health officials to expose any customer who the CDC believes may be at risk of possible exposure or infection.”

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Passengers on the flight said the man’s wife told paramedics that he tested positive for COVID-19 and was showing symptoms.

United Airlines says passengers must certify that they do not have COVID-19 or any symptoms before they may board.

The flight continues to LA after the man is removed from the plane.

City News Service contributed to this report.