Air Transat Passengers

"Thank God for common sense, I asked for gloves and wiped the blood off as told," Birgit Umaigba Omoruyi said.

Five passengers on an Air Transat vacation flight to Florida were hospitalized Thursday after falling ill just before takeoff from Quebec City, which an official blamed on a ventilation breakdown during the plane's de-icing.

A total of 185 passengers fell sick minutes after boarding a plane in Canada's Quebec airport. Ten passengers on board the plane were hospitalised, officials said.

"Thank God for common sense, I asked for gloves and wiped the blood off as told," Birgit Umaigba Omoruyi said.

Five passengers on an Air Transat vacation flight to Florida were hospitalized Thursday after falling ill just before takeoff from Quebec City, which an official blamed on a ventilation breakdown during the plane's de-icing.

A total of 185 passengers fell sick minutes after boarding a plane in Canada's Quebec airport. Ten passengers on board the plane were hospitalised, officials said.