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An aircraft was quarantined at Kennedy Airport in New York, while many passengers were on a flight from Dubai. (September 5th)
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Passenger Muntaz Alli and a staff member coming out of the plane.(Photo: Courtesy of Muntaz Alli)

Muntaz Alli was on his way to visit his cousin when the Emirates flight he was traveling on was quarantined at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York after many passengers became ill when arriving from Dubai early Wednesday.

Guyana, 30, told USA TODAY that his trip had begun in Saudi Arabia and that he had flown on his connecting flight from Dubai to New York.

"Many passengers had symptoms of illness, coughing," he said. "Even the guy next to me, in the economy, lower (level), he was coughing and I knew something was wrong with him."

He stated, however, that the flight had taken off as planned. It took about half an hour before starting their descent to JFK. The pilot announced that there were "a few sick people on board," Alli recalled.

"The flight was alarming only half an hour before we started going down because we did not know what was going on," he said. "Before that, it was a normal flight."

The passengers were informed that a medical team would come to the plane and that no one could leave. It's then that things "have become a bit chaotic," said Alli.

"(The crew) had trouble controlling people because usually when the plane stops, everyone gets up to take their luggage," he said.

After landing, Alli stated that the flight crew had been fired, leaving the passengers unattended for about half an hour until the medical teams boarded to perform the exams, eliminating any problems. First, the sick.

"I saw a group of police cars and ambulances begin to surround us, we had no idea what was going on until we saw TVs in the air." the plane we were on CNN, "he said. "And that's when we knew how bad it was."

Passenger Muntaz Alli told USA TODAY that he did not know the seriousness of the situation before saying that CNN was talking about his flight. (Photo: Courtesy of Muntaz Alli)

Forms were then distributed to collect the medical information of the passengers before they could get out of the plane. The forms came from the Centers for Disease Control and were called "Passenger Locator Information Page".

Alli said that the passengers were on the plane for about 3 ½ hours before everyone was allowed to go out.

"I was worried (getting sick) .I became worried when they started sharing this form with everyone and they are like:" You do not go out of the plane until you what you fill it up and until you are tested, "he said.

Passengers leaving the plane with their forms. (Photo: Courtesy of Muntaz Alli)

The theory of Alli? The illness may have been reported by passengers infected with the flu from Saudi Arabia.

Not only was there more traffic in the area because of the Hajj, an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca that ended in August, but there was also reports of influenza outbreaks.

Alli, who was originally from Saudi Arabia before flying to Dubai, said he had seen other passengers doing the same thing, including the man who was coughing beside him.

"There were Somalis on the flight," he said. "They all came from Saudi Arabia, I think too, they were in Hajj."

He added, "I guess the others probably came from the same group … so it was probably them who came with flu or whatever and it spread."

Although the food was served during the flight, Alli does not believe that it is the cause of the illness.

"I did not see anyone throwing up, but you do not know if they went to the bathroom," he said.

USA TODAY asked Emirates to comment.

More: Emirates Airlines: What will happen after passengers get sick on a flight between Dubai and New York?

More: An American Airlines crew almost landed at the wrong airport in Florida

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