Multiple Passengers Rushed to Hospital After Falling Ill on Plane

Four people were rushed to the hospital Thursday after passengers reportedly became sick inside a plane at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport.

The scary incident happened while a GlobalX plane was still on the tarmac and preparing to leave Miami for Alexandria, Louisiana, according to local reports.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said crews responded after passengers began suffering what appeared to be heat-related illnesses. Airport officials said the aircraft’s air conditioning malfunctioned, causing some people onboard to be affected by the heat.

Aerial video from local news helicopters showed a major emergency response on the tarmac, with rescue crews and police gathered around the GlobalX-branded plane. At least four people were seen being removed on stretchers and loaded into ambulances.

CBS News Miami reported that the medical call triggered a multi-agency response involving Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office and at least one ICE vehicle.

The plane was reportedly connected to GlobalX, also known as Global Crossing Airlines, a Miami-based charter carrier that provides domestic and international passenger and cargo charter flights. The airline has also been used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation flights, though officials had not confirmed whether Thursday’s flight was being used for that purpose.

The aircraft was headed to Alexandria, Louisiana. CBS Miami reported that Alexandria International Airport is home to a federal staging facility used in deportation operations.

The rest of the passengers were moved to a replacement aircraft after the emergency. Flight tracking information cited by CBS Miami showed the flight was delayed for more than five hours before leaving Miami around 6:40 p.m. Thursday.

Despite the alarming scene, airport operations were not disrupted.

Officials had not released the names or conditions of the four hospitalized passengers as of the latest reports. ICE said it was looking into the situation, while investigators continued working to determine exactly what happened onboard the overheated aircraft.