Suspected medical issue and disruptive passenger cause New York-bound flight to divert to Dublin

Gardaí have been notified, as well as the National Ambulance Service and HSE personnel met the aircraft on arrival.

According to Kevin Cullinane, deputy director of communications at DAA, the operator of Dublin Airport, “appropriate protocols” have been put in place.

In a statement to the Irish Examiner, Mr Cullinane said: “Flight UA998 from Brussels bound to New York’s Newark Airport diverted to Dublin Airport this afternoon due to reports of two separate incidents — a disruptive passenger and a suspected medical issue — on board.

“Appropriate protocols were put in place by Dublin Airport Operations and airport police for the arrival of the aircraft and gardaí, National Ambulance Service and HSE personnel met the aircraft on arrival.

In a statement, Dublin Airport has said that there is “no impact on operations” and passengers travelling this evening “should plan to arrive at the airport as normal.”

A spokesperson for the HSE said it cannot comment on individual cases to “protect the privacy and confidentiality” of the people involved.

“Today, HSE National Ambulance Service and HSE Public Health undertook appropriate investigations at Dublin Airport following protocols in partnership with Dublin Airport, An Garda Síochána and Airport Police.

“Public Health and National Ambulance Service managed this incident according to national public health guidelines,” a statement read.

It added: “Departments of Public Health respond to notified cases of suspected infectious diseases, undertake a risk assessment of the situation and control measures are put in place, if required, to protect the public health.”

A United Airlines spokesperson added: “United flight 998 from Brussels to New York/Newark landed safely in Dublin on Monday because of a disruptive passenger. Separately, a medical situation was identified with a different passenger. 

“Medical personnel in Ireland investigated and cleared the flight to continue with the removal of one disruptive passenger, one ill passenger and one other person traveling with the ill passenger. The flight has re-departed for New York/Newark.”