Firefighters In Hazmat Suits Storm British Airways Flight After Passengers Fall Sick | Video

Last Updated:August 30, 2025, 16:55 IST

The dramatic firefighter response came after passengers and cabin crew reportedly fell sick in mid-air, causing the flight to make an emergency landing in Italy.

Firefighters in hazmat suits climbed a British Airways plane after reports of a toxic leak. (Photo: X)

Several firefighters in hazmat suits boarded a grounded British Airways plane, which had made an emergency landing in Italy over reports of a toxic leak, causing panic among travellers.

The dramatic firefighter response came after passengers and cabin crew reportedly fell sick in mid-air on December 23, forcing an emergency landing in Venice, where it was met by firefighters in full protective suits, armed with testing devices.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of “pandemonium”, as passengers believed toxic fumes were to blame for the emergency, according to The Mirror. About six people fell seriously unwell, suffering from headaches and nausea.

Melanie Wells, 61, was travelling with her daughter Imogen, 19, for an eight-day luxury holiday. However, shortly after departing from London’s Gatwick airport, she developed a severe headache which she assumed was caused by the stifling heat onboard.

Passengers Fall Sick, Crew Members Collapse

Within two hours, she saw several passengers falling sick and members of the crew collapsing on the aisle. The flight diverted to Venice, where firefighters clad in hazmat suits climbed aboard in full protective suits.

“About an hour and a half in the air, crew members suddenly began running down the aisle backwards and forwards. I didn’t know what was going on. here was one mum whose eyes rolled into the back of her head – the crew looking after them had actually collapsed because of the fumes,” she was quoted as saying by The Mirror.

“We landed and the whole plane was surrounded by police, ambulances, fire services. I was absolutely terrified – I was out of my mind with worry, I was really fearful. It was pandemonium. The staff were in pure panic mode,” she added.

Melanie and her daughter were eventually flown back to London after an eight-hour delay, causing them to lose the first day of their trip. She said the ordeal “ruined” the beginning of their holiday and is now seeking additional compensation beyond the £2,000 she says the airline has already offered.

“We were travelling for 40 hours. We were utterly exhausted. The experience was horrific,” she said, adding that the airline had behaved in “the most cavalier manner” and refused to refund her for the first night of accommodation lost in Egypt.

“The distress and trauma we went through, it was utterly traumatic. It ruined the start of our holiday. I want the £500 for the missed accommodation too. It was a horrific experience.”

Meanwhile, British Airways confirmed there had been a “technical issue” on board and the flight was diverted back to London after eight hours.

About the Author

Aveek Banerjee

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international…Read More

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international… Read More

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