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- A COVID-19 positive Indonesian man reportedly disguised himself as his wife in order to board a domestic flight.
- He tried to pass himself off as his wife by wearing a niqab or full-face veil to get on a domestic flight, CNN Indonesia reported.
- The man was detained by authorities once the plane touched down at its destination.
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A COVID-19 positive Indonesian man disguised himself as his wife in order to board a domestic flight out of the country, reports said.
The man, only identified by the initials "DW," tried to pass himself off as his wife by wearing a niqab or full-face veil to get on a Citilink flight from the Indonesian capital of Jakarta to Ternate, authorities told CNN Indonesia this week.
The traveler had reportedly already tested positive for the coronavirus. Since his wife tested negative for the virus, he used her ID and negative PCR test results to get on the plane at Halim Perdana Kusuma Airport, authorities said, according to CNN Indonesia.
The man was reportedly caught after a flight attendant reported that she saw the passenger go into the bathroom during the flight and come out wearing men's clothes instead of the niqab, according to CNN.
Authorities were notified in Ternate and the man was detained once the plane touched down, the news outlet reported.
Officials then immediately tested the man for COVID-19 and a PCR test came back positive, the report said.
"The airport immediately contacted the Ternate City COVID-19 Handling Task Force team to evacuate the man while wearing personal protective equipment, and then taking him in an ambulance to his house to self-isolate, where he will be supervised by task force officers," said task force head, Arif Gani, according to CNN.
Local police said they plan to prosecute the man, according to the report.