A passenger aboard US Airways Flight 850 from Philadelphia to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, posted video of an on-board Ebola scare Wednesday that was reportedly prompted by another passenger's remark that he had Ebola. (ABCNews)

It may have been a hoax, but the incident kept arriving passengers on board for two hours after the plane landed while a hazmat crew investigated.

In the video, a flight attendant warned passengers that the inspection about to happen would look worse than it really was.

More popular and trending stories

"I think the man that has said this is an idiot," she said during the announcement.

The airline later issued a statement that the plane was inspected upon arrival “due to a possible health issue on board.”

ABC reported that a passenger told a flight attendant about the other passenger’s Ebola remark. The flight attendant then told the pilot, and that triggered the inspection, per guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

About the Author

Featured

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney — pictured during a hearing Monday, Dec. 15, 2025 — has cleared the way for Georgia's State Election Board to obtain Fulton ballots and other documents from the 2020 election. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC