On July 28, 2024, United Airlines flight UA2477, a Boeing 737-800, was forced to divert midflight due to a biohazard incident onboard. The flight, which was originally scheduled to travel from Houston to Boston, landed at Washington Dulles International Airport instead. The incident unfolded when a passenger onboard the flight became ill, leading to a biohazard situation that caused several crew members and passengers to vomit.
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In audio recordings obtained from the flight, a crew member can be heard saying, "I talked to the crew and it sounds like it's quite bad back there, it's still really bad." Another crew member emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, "With this kind of being a biohazard, I think we need to probably get this plane on the ground ASAP." Upon landing at Dulles International Airport, the aircraft underwent a thorough cleaning process. United Airlines confirmed the incident, stating that the flight was diverted due to a passenger medical issue and that the aircraft was undergoing a deep clean.
United Airlines crew and passengers vomiting due to a “biohazard” from a passenger and flight diverted to Dulles as UA2477 (Boeing 737-800 IAH-BOS) this afternoon.
— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) July 28, 2024
Big thanks to Bill B. for sharing the audio and @RadarBoxCom for tracking. pic.twitter.com/LOojAnsbZH
According to United Airlines, there were 155 passengers and six crew members on the flight. The airline assured that no passengers or crew members required medical attention upon landing at Dulles International Airport.
This incident is not the first of its kind. A similar situation occurred in June when a United Airlines flight from Canada to Texas descended into chaos after approximately 30 passengers exhibited flu-like symptoms following a cruise trip. The diversion of flight UA2477 highlights the importance of airlines being prepared to handle biohazard incidents swiftly and efficiently to ensure the safety and well-being of passengers and crew members.