(CNN) -- Ebola is no laughing matter, especially not at airports or on planes, where screenings have gotten tighter.

So, when a man on a flight on Wednesday may have joked that he had been to Africa and had the deadly disease, he received a special escort off the plane.

Four officials in blue plastic hazmat suits boarded U.S. Airways Flight 845 to retrieve him after it landed in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.

"I was just kidding," he could be heard saying in a video posted to social media. "I ain't from Africa!" he continued, as he walked with the officials down the aisle of the plane.

The Dominican officials had met the plane coming from Philadelphia on the tarmac "due to a possible health issue on board," U.S. Airways said in statement.

"We are following the direction of, and strictly adhering to, all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines in place for airlines in response to the Ebola virus," the airline said.

Before the men came aboard in their bubble-like suits, a flight attendant prepared passengers for what they were about to see. Sit down and listen, she told them.

"It's going to look worse than it is," she said over the PA system. The glow of cell phone cameras filled the cabin and videos of what happened later hit social media.

The attendant spared the passenger who made the comment no indignity. She had seen nothing like this in 36 years of flying, she said.

"I think the man that has said this is an idiot, and I'll say that straight out, and if you hear me that's fine," she announced. Then she introduced the men wearing hazmat suits over bulky breathing apparatuses.

Passengers reacted with astonishment, anger and fear.

"You can't make this stuff up," a passenger can be heard saying in the online video.

Others covered their faces and scooted away in their seats."Don't touch this guy," someone could be heard saying.

A boo or two went through the cabin as the man walked by. Once he was off, the officials checked the plane then gave it clearance.

CNN has not been able to confirm the comment the man allegedly made, but according to local media reports in the Dominican Republic citing the airport's director of operations, it was:

"I have Ebola. You're all screwed."

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/10/09/travel/dominican-ebola-plane-scare/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

Very funny

Ebola is no laughing matter

timawoku:
Very funny

Not funny if he was seated next to you during the flight.

fear of ebola.nobody won die.hahahahahahaa.

lol
the guy made a practical joke... Now he is the laughing stock.

.

"I have a bomb, you are all going to die!", "I have ebola and you are all screwed!"
which of the two statements above do you prefer?

Op is the man OKAY

Why should he even make such a joke. He should be glad they did not dispose him mid-air.

That's what you get when you joke about something that should not be joked about
>>Recall the backlash when someone joked about ra*pe on social media?

big mouth hediot

wazoboy:
"I have a bomb, you are all going to die!", "I have ebola and you are all screwed!"
which of the two statements above do you prefer?

I prefer the former

Same should be done to people who joke with sensitive issues like ebola and bh on Nairaland

Sorry guys but I just have to laugh...... hahhahhahahhahhahahahha


Passengers reacted with astonishment, anger and fear.

"You can't make this stuff up," a passenger can be heard saying in the online video.

Others covered their faces and scooted away in their seats."Don't touch this guy," someone could be heard saying.

. Can imagine how those who sat close to him felt........

You won't find it funny if u are in d plane Or even sitting next to him Who wants to be quarantined

Lesson to some Nigerians who joke with everything

Abee79:
That's what you get when you joke about something that should not be joked about
>>Recall the backlash when someone joked about ra*pe on social media?

Hehe... Twitter activists been wan end basketmouth career

some people are just damn crazy

wazoboy:
"I have a bomb, you are all going to die!", "I have ebola and you are all screwed!"
which of the two statements above do you prefer?

the latter, there are chances of survival

Serves him right. He is hopelessly stupid. I wonder if he has a wife and kids. Such a pathetic father.

Right. People don't learn! There are just certain things NOT to joke about.

That's why I sometimes wonder how appropriate it is that we (Nigerians) are quick to joke about every 'serious' issue. I understand the need to relax and live a little but we need to strike a good balance so that we are taken seriously and so that we don't come out as being insensitive to people who are actually really affected by the unfortunate circumstances that we joke about.

Orinoco pulse!

adegwurulez:

Hehe... Twitter activists been wan end basketmouth career

He learnt the hard way

This government sef

Ntorrrr. Next tym he will have sense. He is just luvky he ain't in nigeria