Korean Air Flight Attendant Tests Positive for COVID-19 Again... Contact with Infected Colleague on US LA Flight

On the 4th, disinfection company staff are disinfecting a Korean Air passenger plane bound for New York at the Korean Air aircraft maintenance hangar at Incheon International Airport. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] A second case of COVID-19 infection has been confirmed among Korean Air flight attendants who traveled to Los Angeles (LA), USA.

According to Yongin City in Gyeonggi Province and Korean Air on the 7th, Korean Air flight attendant A (36, female), who lives in Giheung-gu, Yongin City, tested positive for COVID-19 on the same day. Baek Gun-gi, mayor of Yongin City, posted on his Facebook stating, "A traveled to LA, USA from the 18th to the 21st of last month and the source of infection is under investigation."

A is presumed to have been infected through contact with Korean Air flight attendant B (24, female), who was confirmed positive for COVID-19 on the 25th of last month. A was in self-quarantine after boarding Korean Air flight KE012 from LA to Incheon on the 20th of the same month (local time) together with B. A also boarded flight KE017 from Incheon to LA with B on the 19th of last month.

Previously, B boarded flight KE958, which was the same flight as an Israeli pilgrimage group, and without any symptoms, boarded the LA-bound flight. However, symptoms such as coughing appeared on the return flight from LA starting on the 21st. B arrived at Incheon Airport in the early morning of the 22nd (Korean time) and was in self-quarantine before being tested at Songpa-gu Public Health Center on the afternoon of the 24th and confirmed positive the next day.

On the 4th, disinfection workers from a quarantine company are disinfecting a Korean Air passenger plane bound for New York at the Korean Air aircraft maintenance hangar at Incheon International Airport. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

A worked on a different floor from B on the return flight where B's symptoms appeared, so there was almost no contact on the plane. However, A showed mild fever symptoms on the 27th of last month while in self-quarantine. Later, A developed muscle pain and coughing symptoms for 6 days, was tested at Gangnam Hospital's screening clinic, and received a positive result.

Korean Air has ordered about 30 flight attendants who boarded the same flight as B to self-quarantine for two weeks. As more confirmed cases emerged, Korean Air extended the self-quarantine period by an additional week for about 30 flight attendants who were already in self-quarantine to prepare for any emergencies.

All flight attendants under self-quarantine who showed mild symptoms such as coughing were tested for COVID-19. According to Korean Air, except for A, all other flight attendants tested negative.

Health authorities are currently investigating A's exact movements, infection route, and additional contacts.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.