ANKARA, Feb 26 (NNN-ANADOLU) – A Turkish Airlines plane, departing from Tehran in Iran and due to arrive in Istanbul, was diverted to Turkish capital, Ankara on Tuesday, over the suspicion of COVID-19 infection and passengers on board have been taken under quarantine.
A total of 132 passengers and crew will be kept under observation for 14 days, the Turkish Minister of Health, Fahrettin Koca, said, in a written statement.
The plane was bound from Tehran to Istanbul and was carrying Turkish nationals, local daily, Hurriyet reported.
Some 17 passengers reportedly have fever and some of them were travelling from the city of Qom in Iran to Tehran, before boarding on the Turkish plane.
As of Feb 23, Turkey closed land and railway crossings with Iran. However, the airway is still open for Iranian citizens, who want to return home.
Earlier Tuesday, Turkish Airlines announced to suspend its flights to and from Iran till Mar 10, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, except flights to the capital Tehran.
