The flight deck crew who had breakfast while on a stopover in India, all fell ill with food poisoning with the worst hit having to be put on oxygen during the long-haul journey to Heathrow
British airways pilots were struck with food poisoning after a stopover – with one officer ‘incapacitated’.
The pilots had broken their journey to the UK in India and had breakfast together in a nearby hotel lounge in Hyderabad, as well as drinking bottled water they bought from an outside vendor.
One officer was hit hard and was left ‘incapacitated’ and had to be put on oxygen at 30,000 feet on the lengthy 10 and a half hour flight to London Heathrow. The other two pilots were able to continue working during the flight, but their symptoms progressed once the plane landed in Britain.
British Airways confirmed passenger safety was not affected and that the flight operated safely. But insiders at pilots’ union Balpa reportedly said officials are angered as there was a large amount of previous complains surrounding the hygiene at their £130-a-night hotel.
The pilots filed Air Safety reports and provided samples to ensure medical staff could pinpoint the direct source. British Airways is reportedly assessing the hotel options they have within the Southern Indian city of Hyderabad.
The airline said: “The welfare of our colleagues is a top priority and we are reviewing crew accommodation in this location following some isolated reports of sickness.
“During the flight one of our pilots became unwell. In line with established procedures, the aircraft continued safely to its destination and landed normally.
BA confirmed they had launched an investigation, adding: “The safety of our customers and crew is always our highest priority and at no point was the safety of the flight compromised.”
