American Airlines pilot tests positive for coronavirus

American officials believe the risk any of the passengers were infected was low

Published March 13, 2020 6:57AM (EDT)

FILE - In this Jan. 25, 2016, file photo, a passenger talks on the phone as American Airlines jets sit parked at their gates at Washington's Ronald Reagan National Airport. American Airlines announced Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017, that passengers will be able to buy “basic economy” tickets starting in February that will be similar to bare-bones fares already offered by Delta Air Lines and soon to be matched by United Airlines. The basic-economy fares will have a lower price, but will offer fewer comforts. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) (AP)
FILE - In this Jan. 25, 2016, file photo, a passenger talks on the phone as American Airlines jets sit parked at their gates at Washington's Ronald Reagan National Airport. American Airlines announced Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017, that passengers will be able to buy “basic economy” tickets starting in February that will be similar to bare-bones fares already offered by Delta Air Lines and soon to be matched by United Airlines. The basic-economy fares will have a lower price, but will offer fewer comforts. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) (AP)

This article originally appeared on Raw Story

rawlogo

On Thursday, CNN reported that a pilot for American Airlines has tested positive for the coronavirus.

"American's Chief Medical Officer and leaders from our pilots' office have been in touch with our Dallas Fort Worth based pilot who tested positive for COVID-19," said the company in a statement. "We are in close contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and public health officials and are coordinating with them on all required health and safety measures."

American officials believe the risk any of the passengers were infected was low. Contrary to popular belief, viruses do not generally travel throughout an entire aircraft due to one sick person onboard — if a passenger is sick, for instance, it generally only spreads to people who are in an immediately adjacent row, or who touch an infected surface.


By Matthew Chapman

MORE FROM Matthew Chapman


Related Topics ------------------------------------------

American Airlines Coronavirus Covid-19 Raw Story