A medical evacuation flight transporting two patients suspected of having contracted the Hantavirus from Cape Verde to the Netherlands was forced to divert to the Spanish Canary Islands due to a technical malfunction in its health isolation system. Moroccan authorities denied the aircraft permission to land at Marrakech Airport for necessary repairs, resulting in the unexpected change of course.
According to reports from Spanish media sources, the flight had departed from Praia International Airport in Cape Verde, heading towards Amsterdam as part of an evacuation operation associated with the cruise ship 'MV Hondius.' This ship is currently under international health alert due to suspected cases of Hantavirus on board.
The original flight plan included a technical stop at Marrakech for refueling, but an unexpected failure occurred within the aircraft's 'health isolation bubble,' designed to prevent the spread of infection during patient transport. This prompted the crew to urgently request landing permissions to perform the necessary repairs.
However, Moroccan officials did not grant this request, leading the flight to change its destination to Gran Canaria Airport in Spain, recognized as the nearest facility equipped to handle the aircraft's technical and health-related situation. The Spanish government's delegation in the Canary Islands confirmed that the landing was permitted under strict conditions, which included prohibiting any passengers from boarding or disembarking the aircraft during the technical stop, a protocol that was reportedly adhered to throughout the duration of the stop.
Air traffic reports indicated that the flight was expected to resume its course to Amsterdam after a few hours. However, the flight plan later underwent additional modifications, including the possibility of a stop in Malaga, Spain, before reaching the Netherlands.
This incident arises amid international health mobilization linked to the 'MV Hondius,' which carries 146 people and is under scrutiny for suspected Hantavirus infections on board. Hantavirus is a rare virus typically transmitted by rodents, and currently, there is no vaccine or specific treatment available.
As reported by ar.telquel.ma.
