Lion Air Denies Its Passengers Have Corona Virus

Lion Air aircraft. (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - The airline, Lion Air, has provided clarification regarding the allegations that the four passengers indicated the corona virus. According to Corporate Communications Strategic of Lion Air Danang Mandala Prihantoro, the news is untrue.

The four passengers reportedly boarded the Soekarno-Hatta Airport route to Banjarmasin via Syamsudin Noor International Airport in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan.

Danang conveyed that the domestic flight number JT-524 on Saturday, February 8 from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Tangerang, Banten to Banjarmasin via Syamsudin Noor International Airport in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan (BDJ) had been operated according to standard procedures.

The Boeing 737-800NG registered PK-LOH departed at 13.20 WIB (Western Indonesia Time, GMT + 07) and landed at Syamsudin Noor at 15.20 WITA (Central Indonesian Time, GMT + 08). In this flight, said Danang, Lion Air carried seven crew members and 148 guests or passengers.

"Flight JT-524 has been well prepared, before departure the entire crew underwent a medical examination based on the provisions," said Danang in a statement received by VOI, Tuesday, February 11.

He also explained that in connection with the information that had developed regarding four guests on flight JT-524 who were reportedly indicated by the corona virus, Lion Air received information that all passengers had undergone an examination, intensive inspection by related parties (the medical team and the Port Health Office / KKP team Syamsudin Noor International Airport).

"They were declared negative or were not indicated (had no signs) of the virus," he said.

The information that Lion Air received, he continued, was that the inspection was carried out after arrival. The results of the CTF temperature check showed below 38 degrees and there were no clinical symptoms that indicated pain.

"The four passengers are declared healthy. For this reason, the local Health Service continues to monitor (monitoring). Lion Air complies and carries out all operational provisions while still prioritizing flight safety, security and comfort factors," he explained.