Medical alert after series of passengers mysteriously faint mid-flight on their way to Britain



By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 10:14 AM on 02nd November 2009


Six people collapsed on a transatlantic flight yesterday - sparking a decontamination operation when the British Airways plane landed at Heathrow.


Firefighters in special suits and breathing apparatus boarded the Boeing 777 at a remote stand at Terminal 5 amid fears of fumes or a mystery bug.


The area was sealed off and officials scanned the plane with a handheld device, while a paddling pool was placed at the end of an escape chute - believed to be part of a decontamination system.





Checks: A firefighting in a decontamination suit checks a British Airways plane at Heathrow after six passengers fainted mid-flight



Health fears: Emergency teams rushed on board when the plane from Newark in the U.S. arrived in Britain in case of a chemical leak

Six ambulances stood by as paramedics boarded the plane to treat stricken passengers, who complained of feeling 'light-headed and faint'.


All 216 passengers were kept on board the jet from Newark until the sick were well enough to leave.


It is thought the affected passengers, who were sitting in different areas of economy class, may have had a stomach bug.


Passenger Jill Onen, 47, from Epsom, Surrey, said: 'By the time we got off elderly people who hadn't fainted were pretty close to it.'





Taking no chances: Emergency vehicles lined up next to the plane




Alert: Passengers snapped this picture of firemen checking for any hazards

BA said: 'All the passengers who collapsed were assessed and able to continue with their journeys.'


The plane was investigated and checked by emergency crews but was deemed safe and was put back into use on the same day, British Airways said.


A spokeswoman for London Fire Brigade said the Boeing 777 aircraft, which had 14 crew on board, was fit to fly.


'The cabin area and flight deck were declared safe using equipment and by crews wearing gas-type suits,' she said.


A BA spokeswoman was not able to say whether the aircraft underwent more rigorous cleaning procedures as a result of the fainting spells.



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