A flight attendant on a British Airways flight was hospitalised shortly after arriving in Gatwick, following concerns of toxic fumes onboard the plane.
People on the BA flight from the Dominican Republic complained of a “bad odour” coming from the back of the plane during the flight to Gatwick.
Upon landing, a female flight attendant was taken to the hospital “as a precaution” after she reported feeling dizzy and nauseous.
Other people also reportedly felt poorly during the flight, but did not require medical attention.
According to reports, there were concerns that this could have been due to “carbon monoxide poisoning”; however, this type of gas does not have an odour.
Speaking to The Sun, one passenger spoke of a “real worry” during the flight. “It was the talk of the plane. The problem seemed to be towards the back of the cabin,” they said.
“Various people reported feeling ill, but one stewardess was so badly hit that she needed a hospital check-up on arrival at Gatwick.
“There were fears that the stewardess was ill due to carbon monoxide poisoning. It was a real worry.”
Most smells encountered on planes are harmless, though there was an instance in 2015 when a plane was forced to land due to a smelly poo.
However, more serious instances of fumes on planes do occur. According to CBS, fume or smoke events on aircraft happen about three times a day.
Carbon monoxide leaks can occur on planes due to faulty heating systems or exhaust defects.
The fumes, which are colourless and odourless, can be deadly when inhaled by people, with symptoms of poisoning including nausea, headaches and blurred vision.
Aviation regulators require certain aircraft types to be fitted with a carbon monoxide alarm to detect such issues.
Crew members are also often trained to recognise emergencies, such as a foul smell associated with leaking fumes.
In recent years, there have been complaints about dangerous odours on planes, with one Delta passenger suing Boeing in 2025 after becoming ill on a flight.
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