Passengers May Have Been Exposed to Tuberculosis on US Airways Flight

Passengers on a US Airways flight were shocked when they were told that everyone on board may have been exposed to tuberculosis.

US Airways Express Flight 2846 operated by Mesa Air was heading from Austin to Phoenix. One of the passengers was removed after landing at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Saturday due to concerns over his medical condition. A firefighter reportedly boarded the flight to tell passengers that they were exposed to TB but federal and local officials say this is not confirmed, AZCentral reports.

The man was taken off the flight after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notified the Transportation Security Administration about his "suspected medical condition." The man was cleared to fly in Austin but his status was changed to "no fly" while in flight.

The plane, carrying about 70 passengers, stopped short of the gate when it landed and Phoenix Fire Department paramedics boarded and officials spoke to the CDC.

According to one passenger, Dean Davidson, the plane taxied to an isolated area after it landed and passengers were eventually told that a person was on the flight who had TB and they were contagious.

"I'm actually very concerned," Davidson told the Arizona Republic. "I can't imagine that others aren't becoming more concerned as we have more time to ponder what happened and the lack of information."

However federal and Maricopa County health officials said there was no confirmation that the passenger was infected and contagious. CDC spokeswoman Karen Hunter later said that "no infectious disease has been confirmed in the passenger."

Even though Hunter says there was no confirmation that the man had TB, she added that "even if a passenger had infectious TB, the duration of the flight was so short that there would likely be no risk of exposure to other passengers."

Tuberculosis is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. It is a respiratory disease that is spread through the air from one person to another. Symptoms may include a bad cough, chest pain, coughing up blood, fever and chills, weight loss and weakness. It can be fatal if not treated.