AMSTERDAM- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL) confirmed that a 69-year-old Dutch woman who later died from hantavirus was briefly on board a KLM aircraft at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg (JNB) on April 25, 2026, before crew members denied her boarding due to her medical condition.
The woman, her 70-year-old husband, and a German passenger all died after contracting the virus aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions.
The infected passenger had traveled from Saint Helena Airport (HLE) to Johannesburg (JNB) on an Airlink (4Z) flight carrying 82 passengers and 6 crew members before she attempted to board KLM Flight 592 to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS).
Dutch health authorities, including the RIVM and GGD, have launched contact tracing efforts across multiple flights, while the World Health Organization continues to monitor the growing outbreak linked to the cruise vessel.
Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship MV Hondius Claims Three Lives
The hantavirus outbreak traces back to the MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged expedition cruise ship operated by Oceanwide Expeditions.
Three passengers have died so far, and five additional passengers and crew members have either tested positive for the virus or are expected to confirm positive results.
The first victim, a 70-year-old Dutch man, developed symptoms on April 6, 2026. His condition deteriorated rapidly, and he died five days later on April 11.
His wife, the 69-year-old Dutch woman, began showing signs of illness on April 24. She disembarked the ship at Saint Helena, a British overseas territory in the South Atlantic, where her husband’s remains were also offloaded.
The German woman, the third victim, reported fever and flu-like symptoms on April 28. Her condition progressed into pneumonia, and she died on May 2, NL Times reported.
KLM Denies Boarding to Infected Passenger at Johannesburg
KLM (KL) confirmed in a statement on Wednesday that the Dutch public health authority RIVM informed the airline that one of the deceased hantavirus patients had been briefly present on board a KLM aircraft at Johannesburg (JNB) on April 25, 2026.
The airline stated that the crew assessed the passenger’s medical condition and decided not to allow her to travel on the flight. After the passenger was removed from the aircraft, KLM Flight 592, a scheduled service to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS), departed at 11:15 p.m. local time. The flight operated as a codeshare with Air France (AF), Delta Air Lines (DL), and Scandinavian Airlines (SK).
KLM confirmed that it is cooperating closely with RIVM and the GGD municipal health services. The GGD has initiated contact tracing and is reaching out to all passengers who were on board the aircraft during the incident.
Contact Tracing Expands Across Multiple Flights
Before reaching Johannesburg (JNB), the infected Dutch woman flew from Saint Helena (HLE) on an Airlink (4Z) flight. That flight carried 82 passengers and 6 crew members, all of whom are now being traced by health authorities.
Despite growing visibly ill during the Airlink flight, the woman was initially allowed to board the KLM aircraft at Johannesburg before the crew intervened.
Dutch health services are now coordinating with South African and international authorities to identify and monitor all individuals who may have had contact with the patient across both flights.
Additional Cases Emerge on Board the Cruise Ship
On the same day the Dutch woman left the MV Hondius at Saint Helena, a British male passenger reported to the ship’s doctor with fever, shortness of breath, and signs of pneumonia.
According to the World Health Organization, his condition worsened, and he was evacuated by medical aircraft from Ascension Island to South Africa on April 27. He was admitted to intensive care at a hospital in South Africa.
In total, five other passengers and crew members aboard the MV Hondius have either confirmed hantavirus infections or are considered likely to test positive. Health authorities continue to monitor all individuals who were on board the vessel during the outbreak period.
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