Chaos ensued on a British Airways flight as passengers and cabin crew fell ill mid-air, prompting an emergency landing and a hazmat response. Melanie Wells, 61, and her daughter Imogen, 19, were on a luxurious £7,500 TUI package to Egypt when the incident occurred on December 23. Shortly after departing London Gatwick, Wells experienced a severe headache, initially attributing it to the heat onboard. Within two hours, multiple passengers felt unwell, and crew members collapsed in the aisle.
The aircraft diverted to Venice, where firefighters in full protective gear with testing equipment greeted them. Wells described the situation as “pandemonium,” fearing toxic fumes as the cause. After an eight-hour delay, they were flown back to London, missing the first day of their vacation.
Melanie expressed that the ordeal “spoiled” the start of their trip and is seeking more than the £2,000 compensation offered by the airline. British Airways confirmed the diversion was due to a “technical issue” onboard.
Living in Eastbourne, East Sussex, Melanie recounted, “I had splurged on this trip. I wasn’t feeling well, so I treated myself and my daughter to a high-end, all-inclusive vacation in Sharm El Sheikh. It had been a while since my last getaway, and it was much-needed. Once onboard, the heat was unbearable. It was extremely hot.”
“I developed a severe headache, attributing it to the heat. About an hour and a half into the flight, crew members started rushing back and forth in the aisle. I was confused. One woman’s eyes rolled back, and crew members attending to her collapsed due to the fumes.
“Approximately six passengers became seriously ill during the flight. I felt extremely unwell, experiencing nausea and a headache. Initially, I thought it was stress, but now I believe it was fumes.”
Following the emergency landing in Venice, ambulances and fire trucks surrounded the plane, with personnel in hazmat suits and breathing apparatus boarding. Melanie said, “We received no information throughout. Upon landing, the plane was encircled by police, ambulances, and firefighters.
“Individuals in hazmat suits with breathing apparatus inspected the crew and affected passengers with what seemed to be testing devices. I was terrified – overwhelmed with worry and fear. It was chaotic. The crew appeared panicked. I was concerned that we had been exposed to toxic fumes. The captain never updated us.”
After an eight-hour delay in Italy, the plane returned to London Gatwick before continuing to Egypt the next morning. Upon her return, Melanie lodged a complaint with BA, claiming they offered £2,130 in compensation for the cancelled flight, meal expenses, and inconveniences faced.
However, Melanie asserted that the airline declined to reimburse them for the missed accommodation in Egypt. Melanie stated, “We endured a 40-hour journey. We were completely exhausted. It was a harrowing experience. It was truly a nightmare flight. BA’s conduct was extremely casual. The distress and trauma we experienced were severe. It marred the beginning of our vacation. I also demand the £500 for the missed accommodation. It was a dreadful