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Three British Airways pilots became ill during a 10.5-hour flight from Hyderabad, India, to London Heathrow, with one pilot becoming unable to carry out their duties while the aircraft was still in the air.
The other two pilots, who reportedly developed similar symptoms, remained at their posts and brought the Boeing 777-200 operating flight BA276 down safely at Heathrow Airport. British Airways said flight safety was not put at risk and that the aircraft continued under established safety procedures before landing normally.
One of the co-pilots reportedly became seriously unwell while the aircraft was flying at around 30,000 feet, or approximately 9,100 meters.
The pilot was taken off duty and given oxygen on board. Although the two remaining pilots also began showing symptoms, they were able to carry on with the flight and complete the journey to London.
Their conditions reportedly worsened during the flight and became more severe after the aircraft touched down in Britain.
The three pilots had stayed overnight at a hotel in Hyderabad before the flight and ate breakfast together in the hotel's dining area.
They reportedly consumed food and drinks at the hotel and also drank bottled water supplied by an outside company. It has not yet been established whether the symptoms were linked to the breakfast, the drinks, the bottled water, or another source.
The fact that all three pilots became ill at around the same time has led investigators to look into possible food poisoning, although the cause has not been confirmed because medical test results have not been released.
All three pilots reportedly filed Air Safety Reports after the flight. These reports are used in the aviation industry to formally record incidents or conditions that may have affected operational safety.
Biological samples were also collected from the pilots as medical teams sought to work out whether they had been exposed to the same food, drink or another possible source of illness.
The exact date of the flight, the number of passengers on board and the pilots' later health conditions were not disclosed.
Sources linked to the British Airline Pilots' Association (BALPA) claimed that previous hygiene complaints had been made about the hotel used by the crew.
The unnamed hotel, where a room reportedly cost around £130 per night, was said to have been the subject of numerous complaints over cleanliness. However, these claims have not been independently verified, and no direct connection between the earlier complaints and the pilots' illnesses has been established.
British Airways has since started reviewing accommodation arrangements for flight crews in Hyderabad. The airline said employee health and safety remained a priority and that crew lodging was being reassessed following isolated reports of illness in the area.
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