A British Airways flight from London Gatwick to Sharm El Sheikh on August 29 had to make an emergency landing in Venice when passengers and crew began to experience illness with symptoms including skin irritation, respiratory issues, dizziness and nausea.
Emergency teams in hazmat suits boarded the aircraft to investigate, while firefighters and medical staff responded on the ground. In spite of the situation and numerous sick passengers, no toxic fumes were found. The aircraft was cleared for service after the inspection.
A passenger, Melanie Wells, described the situation as “pandemonium” after she and others felt nauseous, experienced headaches and saw crew members collapse and have their eyes roll back. Wells suspected toxic fumes were the cause. The disrupted flight returned to London after the eight-hour delay. Passengers were frustrated and exhausted, according to posts on social media.