Plane carrying Brits from rat virus ship touches down in Manchester
A plane carrying British passengers who stayed for weeks on the MV Hondius, which contracted hantavirus, landed in England.
The repatriation flight landed at Manchester Airport carrying 20 British citizens who disembarked from the ship in Tenerife earlier today.
They will now be transferred to an isolation facility at Arrowe Park Hospital in Wirral, Merseyside.
The hospital was previously used to quarantine patients returning from Wuhan at the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak.
Emergency services in the North West of England said they expected passengers to be kept in a ‘managed environment’ for up to 72 hours.
They added that the NHS Trust and hospital were ‘operating as normal’ without any risk to patients, visitors or staff and that ‘people should continue to come forward for care as usual’.
After the isolations, public health experts will evaluate whether the passengers can isolate at home or in another suitable place, based on their living arrangements.
They will then remain in isolation for 45 days and will not be allowed to travel home by public transport.
The plane carrying British citizens repatriated from the MV Hondius cruise ship, which was affected by the hantavirus epidemic, arrived at Manchester Airport.
Britons wearing protective gear reached shore after being evacuated from virus-plagued ship
A man waves as British passengers disembark the MV Hondius and take a bus to the airport at Granadilla Port in Tenerife
Janelle Holmes, chief executive of Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said in a letter to staff: ‘We have been asked to accommodate guests by NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in recognition of how quickly and positively we responded to and supported the repatriation of British nationals from Wuhan and the Diamond Princess prior to the Covid-19 outbreak.
‘We will welcome our guests on Sunday, May 10, 2026, and they will all be screened for symptoms before arriving at the property; Anyone showing symptoms will not be transferred here.
‘If anyone becomes unwell after arrival, they will be quickly transferred to another facility.’
MV Hondius arrived in Tenerife on Sunday morning and Spanish authorities began evacuating the ship based on nationality.
Passengers were told to leave their luggage on board and were only allowed to take a small bag with essential items such as a phone and passport.
British passengers were tested for hantavirus before disembarking the ship and returning to England.
Concerns have been raised about French citizens returning from the Canary Islands after a passenger showed symptoms during a repatriation flight.
WHO said that approximately 30 crew members and a Dutch nurse, as well as the body of a passenger who died on the ship, will remain on the ship, which will sail to Rotterdam for disinfection.
A joint statement issued ahead of the plane’s arrival by NHS England North West, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board, Merseyside Police, North West Ambulance Service and Wirral Council said: ‘Organisations in Cheshire and Merseyside are working closely with colleagues from the UK Health Security Agency and other government bodies to support the repatriation of passengers from the MV Hondius.
‘On arrival they will be taken to a managed setting for clinical assessment and testing, in line with advice from the UK Health Safety Agency. We expect this initial stay to be up to 72 hours.
‘Public health experts will then evaluate whether they can isolate at home or in another suitable location, based on their living arrangements.
‘The risk to the general population remains very low.’
A bus carries passengers and crew on board the cruise ship during evacuation operations at Granadilla de Abona Port in Tenerife
Passengers of the cruise ship affected by the hantavirus epidemic board the plane to England
Meanwhile, British Army troops parachuted onto the remote island of Tristan da Cunha to treat a British citizen with a suspected case of the virus.
Six paratroopers from 16th Air Assault Brigade, an RAF advisor and an Army nurse were parachuted onto the South Atlantic island, while oxygen supplies and medical aid were also dropped off at Tristan da Cunha, normally accessible only by boat.
The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said it was the first time medical personnel had been parachuted in to provide humanitarian support.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the security of ‘all members of the British family’ was a top priority.
He said: ‘We will continue to work closely with international authorities and Tristan da Cunha’s management, keeping those affected informed and ensuring the right support is provided in the UK and Overseas Territories.’
