British Airways launches probe after crew struck with food poisoning during India layover

British Airways have announced they are launching an "urgent investigation" after all pilots onboard got suspected food poisoning on a flight.

The flight from Hyderabad to Heathrow was struck by a serious health scare after every pilot on board fell ill during the 10½-hour journey.

One of the first officers became so unwell at 30,000ft that they were deemed "incapacitated" and required supplemental oxygen mid-flight.

The incident has prompted fury from the British Airline Pilots' Association, with union insiders revealing that crew members had raised "dozens" of complaints about hygiene standards at their stopover hotel in the southern Indian city long before the latest episode.

TRENDING

Stories

Videos

Your Say

All three pilots were affected after staying at the accommodation prior to departure.

The crew had eaten breakfast together and consumed drinks in the lounge of their £130-a-night hotel in Hyderabad, with all three also drinking bottled water supplied by an outside provider.

Following the incident, each pilot submitted an Air Safety Report, and medical professionals requested samples in an effort to identify the precise cause of the illness.

Balpa officials are understood to be incensed that repeated warnings about conditions at the accommodation had gone unheeded.

According to union sources, previous concerns about cleanliness at the hotel numbered in the dozens, raising serious questions about why the venue continued to be used for crew stopovers.

British Airways maintained that the safety of the flight was never in jeopardy despite all three pilots being struck down simultaneously.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• British tourists caught in hour-long queues spilling into carparks at European airports as summer getaway begins
• Historic 200-year-old bridge set to reopen after £12m restoration for first time in seven years
• Dozens of cyclists embark on 290-mile bike ride in honour of murdered MP Jo Cox

However, a source said: "An urgent investigation has been launched as this must not happen again."

The carrier confirmed it was now evaluating alternative hotel options in Hyderabad for its crew.

In a statement, 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."

The characterisation of the complaints as "isolated" appears set to draw further criticism from Balpa, given the volume of prior warnings the union says were lodged.

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter