A MAJOR incident has been declared at New York's JFK Airport following reports a plane has been quarantined.

An Emirates airline Airbus A380 superjumbo jet is understood to be stuck at John F. Kennedy International Airport after a number of passengers fell ill on a flight arriving from Dubai early this morning, according to local press.

It's understood around 10 travellers are ill on the plane, which landed around 9.15am local time.

In a statement to USA Today, Emirates said: "Emirates can confirm that about 10 passengers on #EK203 from Dubai to New York were taken ill.

"On arrival, as a precaution, they were attended to by local health authorities.

"All others will disembark shortly. The safety & care of our customers is our first priority."

Local media report the plane was initially transferred to a staging area by Port Authority Police before a team from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were sent to investigate the cause.

It is not yet known what's caused the passengers to take unwell.

Passenger Larry Coben, who is understood to have been in Scotland just days ago, took to social media for assistance after he spotted around "a dozen" ambulances and police cars waiting on the tarmac.