A plane full of passengers were held at Liverpool John Lennon Airport for over an hour yesterday after concerns a fellow passenger had an “infectious disease”. 

The flight was coming in from Barcelona, and landed in Liverpool at 5:30pm on Monday 20 November.

However, the passengers were said to have been kept on the plane until 7:00pm. 

Worry spread among the flyers as they wondered what the alleged illness was.

A man, who remained anonymous, told Liverpool newspaper ECHO he had been held on the plane with his wife and his daughter.

“They told me no one is being allowed off the plane, because there’s apparently someone with an infectious disease.

“It makes you very worried - my wife has cancer and my daughter is pregnant. 

“They are worried sick being stuck there for an hour," he added to his account. 

One man, Joe Welsh, tweeted: “Quarantined on the plane at Liverpool airport because of a possible infectious disease #rememberme”.

However, it seems the illness was chicken pox – a highly infectious illness that causes an itchy spotty rash.

A representative for Liverpool John Lennon Airport said the matter had been resolved after they were informed a passenger was ill.

“We had reports of a passenger on an inbound flight taken ill with chicken pox.

"This was investigated upon landing after which all other passengers were allowed to disembark as normal.”

Another passenger, aged 30, told ECHO she was told a two year old girl on the plane was ill – but was not informed what the medical issue was.

“We had to stay in the plane for over an hour, as a two-year-old girl on the plane had a rash on their face.

“The paramedics wouldn’t tell us what it was. But they said a little girl was ill with an infectious disease. The paramedic said she was going to A&E.

“I’m six weeks pregnant and we don’t know anything. They said anyone pregnant or with a low immune system should see a GP.”