Travelers flying to LAX notified of possible exposure to COVID-19 after passenger deaths on December 14

LOS ANGELES (KABC) – Los Angeles County health officials are notifying passengers on a United Airlines flight bound for LAX that they may have been exposed to COVID-19 after a passenger passed out during the flight and died of the virus.

United flight 591 was en route to Los Angeles from Orlando on December 14. He was diverted to New Orleans due to a medical emergency after a passenger suffered what was initially considered a heart attack.

The man died in a hospital.

Last week, a report from the Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office in Louisiana confirmed that the 69-year-old Los Angeles resident died of COVID-19 and acute respiratory failure.

RELATED: United passenger flying to LAX died of COVID-19, respiratory failure, coroner said

United Airlines confirmed on December 18 that it had been contacted by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about the man.

“At the time of the diversion, we were informed that he had suffered a cardiac arrest, so passengers had the option of taking a flight later or continuing with their travel plans,” according to the airline. “Now that CDC has contacted us directly, we are sharing the requested information with the agency so that they can work with local health authorities to conduct an approach to any client that CDC believes is at risk of possible exposure or infection.”

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Passengers on the flight said the man’s wife told paramedics that he tested positive for COVID-19 and had symptoms.

United Airlines says that passengers should make sure they do not have COVID-19 or any symptoms before they are allowed to board.

The flight continued to LA after the man was taken off the plane.

The City News Service contributed to this report.