A passenger onboard the Delhi-Pune Indigo flight claimed that he is COVID-19 positive just before the take-off, creating panic among the passengers and crew on the flight.

"On March 4, a passenger announced himself that he was travelling to Pune and that he was Covid positive. He informed the flight crew on board," an Indigo official was quoted by ANI on Friday.

The flight was on the runway and about to take off to Pune when the man told the cabin crew he is COVID-19 positive and showed documents to prove it after which the pilot decided to return to taxi-bay offloaded all the passengers, including the COVID-19 positive passenger.

The flight was reported to be delayed for about two hours because of the incident. Later, the aircraft was fumigated and sanitised and the seat covers were also changed," the official said.

“The airline followed the COVID-19 guidelines laid down by the government and aviation authority," the official added.

The COVID-19 passenger was handed over to the authority at the Indira Gandhi International Airport and his COVID test was conducted. His results came out positive.

(With inputs from ANI)