Ebola Scare -- Airline Passenger Pleads ... 'I Ain't From Africa'

Fear of Ebola led to the scary scene in this video and it should be a lesson to everyone these days -- NEVER say "Africa" right after sneezing on a plane ... because you could be removed by men in hazmat suits.

A US Airways flight from Philadelphia landed in the Dominican Republic Thursday, and was immediately greeted by health officials after a passenger decided to make a stupid joke.

According to passengers the man sneezed and then said he'd just come from Africa. Flight attendants immediately reported it ... even though the man pleaded with them that he was only joking.

In reality he had NOT been to Africa, and as he was removed he said ... "I ain't from Africa. S**t!"

Dumb joke to make, and his fellow passengers were not amused. You can see them hurling taunts and boos as he walks off the plane.