FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM SEPTEMBER 6, 2018 • THE QUEENS COURIER 3
Flu likely cause of passengers’
illness on JFK fl ight
A international fl ight made an emergency medical landing in
JFK Wednesday morning with reports of sick passengers and
employees.
ABC reported that Emirates Flight 203, which was an Airbus
A380 with 521 passengers on board, landed at JFK from Dubai at
9:10 a.m. on Sept. 5. According to the report, two passengers on
the plane were experiencing very high fevers and about 100 passengers
were coughing non-stop.
Upon landing, local medical personnel came to the plane to
evaluate the passengers. Th e plane was quarantined away from
the terminals.
Ten people — three passengers and seven fl ight crew members
— were rushed to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center for treatment.
Eight passengers were treated onsite for experiencing similar
symptoms.
Emirates Airline tweeted out the following statement regarding
the landing: “Emirates can confi rm that about 10 passengers
on #EK203 from Dubai to New York were taken ill. On arrival, as
a precaution, they were attended to by local health authorities. All
others will disembark shortly. Th e safety & care of our customers
is our fi rst priority.”
Following the landing, the Centers for Disease Control and
U.S. Customs and Border Protection were notifi ed. Eric Phillips,
a spokesman for Mayor de Blasio, tweeted that the symptoms are
consistent with the fl u. Medical offi cials are running tests to confi
rm the cause of the illness.
Th e remaining passengers were later cleared for travel by medical
offi cials.
Emily Davenport
Shooter sought for assault in
South Ozone Park
Cops continue to search
for a shooter who open
fi red at a man on a South
Ozone Park street.
According to police,
at 3:57 a.m. on July 28,
a 20-year-old man was
standing outside of a
home on 116th Street
near Rockaway Boulevard
when an unknown man
fi red four to six shots in
his direction.
Law enforcement sources
said the victim was hit
once in the thigh, and the
shooter fl ed the scene in
an unknown direction.
EMS responded to the scene and took the victim to Jamaica
Hospital in stable condition. At this time, it is unclear what the
motive behind the shooting was or if there was a connection
between the shooter and the victim.
Th e suspect is described as a black man with a beard. He was last
seen wearing a red baseball hat, a black Fila jacket, red pants with
a white stripe, and white sneakers.
Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to
call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS (8477)
or for Spanish, 888-57-PISTA (74782). All calls are kept confi -
dential.
Emily Davenport
Photos courtesy of Assemblyman Ron Kim
Flushing Backpack Giveaway hopes to
help students start the school year strong
BY JOSH TOWNER
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
The 109th Precinct,
Assemblyman Ron Kim and
Healthfi rst hosted a backpack
giveaway August 30, supplying
more than 800 backpacks and
sets of school supplies.
Th e event began at 11 A.M.
in the back lot of the 109th
Precinct’s headquarters in
Flushing, but a large crowd of
students and parents began lining
up hours earlier.
Kim, 109th Precinct
Commander Keith P. Shine,
Detective Kevin O’Donnell, representatives
from Healthfi rst,
including Director of Medicare
William Wang, and other elected
offi cials from the community
attended the giveaway.
Organizers and volunteers
expressed their hope that the
backpacks and supplies would
help students start the school
year well.
Th e importance of working
together to stop bullying was also
discussed. Kim and the 109th
Precinct have helped to strengthen
an anti-bullying movement
over the last two years, highlighting
the theme in other events like
the National Night Out.
“We are proud to continue
this amazing annual tradition
of giving backpacks and
other essential school supplies
to the students who need them.
Sometimes something as basic
but crucial as a backpack for
children from underserved communities
can make all the diff erence,”
said Kim.
Healthfirst Director of
Medicare William Wang also
spoke at the event. He voiced
his pride for the event and
Healthfi rst’s commitment as a
dedicated community partner.
“We hope the parents and
children who came today will
put the supplies they received to
good use,” said Wang.
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