A British Airways flight was forced to do an emergency landing after passengers and cabin crew reportedly fell ill mid-flight, prompting a dramatic response from hazmat teams. Melanie Wells, 61, and her daughter Imogen, 19, were travelling on a £7,500 luxury TUI package to Egypt when the incident occurred on December 23. Shortly after leaving London Gatwick, Melanie developed a severe headache which she put down to the heat onboard. Within two hours, she said multiple passengers were feeling unwell and crew members collapsed in the aisle.
The plane was diverted to Venice, where it was met by firefighters in full protective gear, equipped with testing devices. Melanie described scenes of “pandemonium” amid fears of toxic fumes. After an eight-hour delay, the pair were flown back to London, losing the first day of their holiday. British Airways confirmed the plane was diverted due to a “technical issue” onboard but did not specify what that meant.
Melanie, from Eastbourne, said the ordeal “ruined” the start of their holiday, and is demanding more compensation than the £2,000 she claims the airline has already offered.
She said: “I’d really pushed the boat out. I hadn’t been very well so treated me and my daughter to an ultra-high-end all-inclusive in Sharm El Sheikh.
“I hadn’t been away for ages, it was definitely much-needed. When we boarded, the temperature was so extreme that I started to feel unwell. It was supersonically hot.
“I ended up getting a really bad headache and put it down to the heat. About an hour and a half in the air, crew members suddenly began running down the aisle backwards and forwards.
“I didn’t know what was going on. There was one mum whose eyes rolled into the back of her head. The crew looking after them had actually collapsed because of the fumes.
“About six people fell seriously ill on board while we were in the air. I felt very unwell. I felt nauseous and had a headache. At the time I put it down to stress but now looking back I think it was fumes.”
Following an emergency landing in Venice, Melanie revealed ambulances and fire engines circled the aircraft before personnel in hazmat suits and breathing equipment rushed aboard.
She added: “We were told nothing the whole time. We landed and the whole plane was surrounded by police, ambulances, fire services.
“And then men in hazmat suits with full breathing apparatus came on board with what I was assume were [testing devices], running them over the stewards and stewardesses then doing it to the passengers affected.
“I was absolutely terrified. I was out of my mind with worry, I was really fearful. It was pandemonium. The staff were in pure panic mode. I was thinking, have we all been inhaling toxic fumes? At no point did the captain give us any information.”
Following an eight-hour ordeal in Italy, the aircraft was diverted back to London Gatwick before finally touching down in Egypt the next morning.
Upon returning home, Melanie lodged a complaint with BA, who she claims have offered £2,130 in compensation covering the cancelled flight, meal costs and difficulties encountered.
However, said said the carrier is refusing to reimburse her for the first night’s accommodation they missed in Egypt due to the disruptions. She added: “We were travelling for 40 hours. We were utterly exhausted. The experience was horrific.
“It was definitely a flight from hell. BA have performed in the most cavalier manner. The distress and trauma we went through, it was utterly traumatic. It ruined the start of our holiday. I want the £500 for the missed accommodation too. It was a horrific experience.”
BA confirmed there was no evidence of any fumes aboard and the aircraft was inspected and returned to service the following day.
A spokesperson said: “The safety of our customers and colleagues is always our top priority and our aircraft diverted as a precaution because of a technical issue. We’ve apologised to our customers for their experience and have offered compensation accordingly.”