One of British Airways' pilots became ill mid-flight on BA276 after an overnight layover in Hyderabad; the aircraft landed safely at Heathrow and the airline says safety was not compromised. British Airways is reviewing crew accommodation in Hyderabad after isolated reports of sickness. BALPA advises crew to eat different meals to lower the risk of shared foodborne illness and says pilots were moved to alternative hotels while feedback is gathered. The incident follows a separate recent inflight medical emergency on a regional Air Canada service.
British Airways Co-Pilot Fell Ill Mid-Flight After Hyderabad Layover; Airline Reviews Crew Accommodation
The interior of a commercial jet cockpit with two pilotsCredit: Getty
A British Airways co-pilot became unwell during an international flight to London after an overnight layover in Hyderabad, India, prompting the airline to review crew accommodation at that location.
The incident occurred on British Airways flight BA276, which departed Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad and landed at London Heathrow more than 10 hours later, according to FlightAware tracking data for the week of July 19. British Airways told PEOPLE that one of its pilots fell ill during the flight but that the aircraft continued to its destination and that flight safety was never compromised. The airline did not provide an exact date for the event.
A British Airways planeCredit: Peter Nicholls/Getty
What Happened On Board
Local reporting by Gulf News said the three pilots had shared a hotel breakfast that included bottled water supplied by an external company. During the flight the first pilot was described as being "incapacitated," required oxygen and needed further medical attention on arrival. The remaining two pilots continued to operate the flight, although their symptoms reportedly worsened en route.
British Airways: "The welfare of our colleagues is a top priority, and we are reviewing crew accommodation in this location following some isolated reports of sickness."
Union Response and Precautions
The British Airline Pilots' Association (BALPA), which represents more than 10,000 U.K. pilots, advises members to take precautions to reduce the risk of shared foodborne illness; its guidance encourages pilots to choose different meals so multiple crew members are not affected by the same contaminated food. BALPA also said it has worked with British Airways to ensure hotels meet crew needs and that pilots were moved to alternative accommodation in Hyderabad in recent days where concerns emerged.
British Airways planes at London's Heathrow AirportCredit: Stefan Rousseau/PA Images/Getty
BALPA members can submit feedback on hotels after each visit; recurring problems are reported to the airline for follow-up, the union said.
Context
Airlines frequently review crew welfare and accommodation as part of safety and operational procedures. This episode follows a separate inflight medical emergency on June 24, when a regional flight operated for Air Canada by PAL Airlines diverted after the captain experienced a medical issue; the first officer landed the aircraft safely in Boston.
British Airways and BALPA continue to monitor reports of illness among flight crew and are reviewing arrangements in Hyderabad. PEOPLE and Gulf News reported elements of the story, and FlightAware provided tracking data referenced for the flight timing.
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