A United Airlines plane departing from Vancouver, Canada, was taken out of service to undergo a deep cleaning after several passengers who had been on the same cruise ship felt unwell during the flight to Houston, according to the airline.
The 25 sick passengers who complained of nausea on Flight 1528 on Friday were among a group of 75 people who had previously traveled on a cruise in Vancouver, according to the Houston Fire Department.
United Airlines did not say which cruise the passengers were on ahead of Friday’s flight, which carried 163 passengers and six crew members.
The travelers aboard the Boeing 737 Max 8 who arrived in Houston shortly after 6 p.m. CT were sick “due to the cruise,” Martee Black, a spokesperson for the Houston Fire Department, told CNN.
Houston firefighters arrived at George Bush Intercontinental Airport and evacuated three patients from the plane, but no one was transported to the emergency room, Black said.
“United Airlines is actively coordinating with health authorities to address the situation,” said a statement from the airline. “Ensuring the health and safety of our passengers and crew remains our top priority.”
The airline said the aircraft will be thoroughly cleaned “as a precaution” before returning to service.
CNN has contacted the Houston Health Department for comment.
CNN’s Ashley R. Williams contributed to this report.
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