A FLIGHT was forced to return to Heathrow airport after several people on board fell ill - but no issues were discovered with the plane.
American Airlines flight AA109 abandoned its journey to Los Angeles when passengers and flight attendants began feeling light-headed and nauseous. One stewardess passed out and required oxygen, while others described a "slight electrical or burning smell" in the cabin.
#AmericanAirlines #AA109 #Emergency #Squawking7770 returning to #Heathrow #AAL109 pic.twitter.com/EKdT4zqXMF — Oisín (ush_1982) January 27, …
— Carl Marx (@ERrisk) January 27, 2016
The pilot declared a medical emergency and the plane was met by emergency services on landing at Heathrow at 5pm on Wednesday, around five hours after it had taken off.
London Ambulance Service said they examined six people who were feeling unwell, discharging all of them at the scene.
The aircraft was examined by both the London Fire Service and the flight's maintenance team, including checking air quality on board, but they could find nothing wrong.
#Heathrow flight turns back after 'crew struck down by mystery illness': https://t.co/iQlZyVJkvl
— Jasmine (@jasminancona) January 27, 2016
A spokesman for American Airlines said: "The aircraft landed safely, where it was met by paramedics who evaluated passengers and crew.
"None requested further medical attention. Our maintenance team conducted a thorough inspection of the aircraft, including a test flight, and found no issues with the Boeing 777-300.
"Out of an abundance of caution, all of the air filters on the aircraft were replaced."
The incident coincides with the UK premiere in Glasgow today of a new documentary investigating the controversial issue of aerotoxic syndrome, where passengers and crew suffer neurological damage as a result of exposure to toxins in the bleed-air used to pressurise and ventilate cabins - either from prolonged, low-level exposure or as a result of a more severe 'fume event'.
#AA109 American Airlines flight diverted back to #heathrow 7 crew and passengers due to MYSTERY Medical Emergency https://t.co/fszimUsPg7
— RM2014 (@rm2014rick) January 28, 2016
The aviation industry does not recognise the condition, however, and evidence is disputed.
It has also been suggested that Wednesday's bizarre events could be down to cleaning product fumes released when an oven in the galley was turned on, or by something leaking in a passenger's hand luggage. The bags were confiscated after landing for checks.
Hysteria has also been suggested, with people more likely to panic when they see others fall ill.
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