Officials in protective suits boarded a US aircraft after a passenger reportedly joked about suffering from ebola, according to reports.

The US Airways Flight 845 from Philadelphia to the Dominican Republic remained on the tarmac for over an hour after landing as the hazmat crew in blue suits filed past passengers.

The airline said in a statement that the flight "was met yesterday by local officials upon landing due to a possible health issue on board".

According to Fox News Latino, a passenger screamed "I’ve been to Africa!" just before the flight landed in Punta Cana.

Initial reports in the Dominican press and on social media suggested the passenger had yelled, "I have ebola!"

The man, who has not been identified, was reported to be coughing during the flight.

ABC News said a comment by the passenger that he had ebola was heard by a fellow passenger, who alerted a flight attendant, who then informed the captain.

In a video circulated on social media, a flight attendant is heard informing passengers about the upcoming arrival of the hazmat crew, and adds: "I think the man who has said this is an idiot."

The flight was checked and cleared, the airline said.

Paola Rainieri, vice president of marketing and communications for Grupo Punta Cana, which owns the airport, told Fox News Latino that the incident was a "joke of poor taste".