Story By: Alex Cope, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash

An investigation is underway after 289 passengers had to be evacuated from a flight from India to Dubai after a UK national under observation over a later confirmed COVID-19 infection managed to still travel to the airport.

The passengers were taken off the flight from Cochin International Airport in the southern Indian state of Kerala shortly before they were due to take off for Dubai.

Local media report an unnamed British national, who had been visiting the Munnar region in Kerela as part of a group of 19 tourists, had undergone tests for COVID-19 before reaching the airport.

He and his wife, whose nationality has not been reported, managed to board the Emirates flight to Dubai but the authorities then received his test results which came back positive.

All 289 passengers were taken off the flight while the 19 members of the tour group were taken to the quarantine centre at Kalamassery Medical College.

The other passengers were also eventually taken off the flight and reports state they were taken to the Aluva government hospital.

Reports state the UK national had been under surveillance in Munnar and had not warned the authorities that he was going to the airport.

Officials are reportedly investigating how he managed to escape surveillance and board the flight.

There are no updates on his condition.

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